Chromatic
adjective /krəˈmæt.ɪk/ — Relating to colour; of or produced by colour
Definition
Relating to colour — or in music, relating to the scale using all twelve semitones. Something chromatic is full of colour, concerned with colour, or produced through the full range of colour.
Beyond the definition
The word that puts colour at the centre. Chromatic says: this is about colour — about the entire spectrum as a subject of study, not just a description.
Origin & history
From Greek 'chrōmatikos' (relating to colour) — from 'chrōma' (colour, complexion). The same root as 'chromium' (the metallic element of bright colour), 'chrome', and 'chromosome'.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The painting had a chromatic range unusual for the period — colours that hadn't been combined in European work before.
The chromatic scale gives the pianist access to all twelve tones — the full spectrum available to Western music.
A chromatic aberration in a lens produces coloured fringes around objects — the spectrum revealed by imperfection.
How to use it
This entry uses an adjective. Follow the examples for the nouns it describes and its position in the sentence.
Choose “Chromatic” when the meaning fits your context: Relating to colour — or in music, relating to the scale using all twelve semitones. Something chromatic is full of colour, concerned with colour, or produced through the full range of colour.
Synonyms
colourful, polychromatic, spectral, coloured
Antonyms
monochromatic, achromatic, colourless
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Swirling Pigments on Palette
A palette features thick, blended pigments that create a range of colors, representing a full, vibrant spectrum of options.
The multitude of colors being blended on the palette creates a range of chromatic potential, illustrating the word's relation to the full spectrum of color.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Chromatic" mean?
Chromatic is adjective meaning: Relating to colour; of or produced by colour. Relating to colour — or in music, relating to the scale using all twelve semitones. Something chromatic is full of colour, concerned with colour, or produced through the full range of colour.
Where does the word "Chromatic" come from?
From Greek 'chrōmatikos' (relating to colour) — from 'chrōma' (colour, complexion). The same root as 'chromium' (the metallic element of bright colour), 'chrome', and 'chromosome'.