noun

palette

/ˈpælɪt/ · say it: PAL·ut

the range of colors an artist uses

In Arts & Culture

In more detail

1. (noun) a thin board on which an artist mixes paints

2. (noun) the range of colors used in a painting, design, or by an artist

3. (noun) a range of options or choices available

Examples

1. The painter squeezed fresh colors onto her palette before starting the portrait.
2. The designer chose a warm palette of reds and oranges for the interior.
3. The restaurant offers a palette of vegetarian dishes to choose from.

How to use palette

Palette refers either to the physical board artists use for mixing paints or, more abstractly, to a range of colors or choices. It is commonly used in design, art, and increasingly in business contexts to describe available options or elements. The term carries a slightly elevated or creative tone compared to simpler alternatives like 'range' or 'selection'.

Common phrases

color palette
artistic palette
palette of options
palette of colors
limited palette
broad palette

Synonyms

range · spectrum · array · selection · assortment

Word family

palettes (plural)

A common mistake

Learners often confuse 'palette' with 'pallet' (a wooden platform for transporting goods) or 'palate' (the roof of the mouth or sense of taste).

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