achromatic

[ ak-ruh-mat-ik, ey-kruh- ]

adjective

1. Optics.
   1. free from color.
   2. able to emit, transmit, or receive light without separating it into colors.
2. Biology. (of a cell structure) difficult to stain.
3. Music. without accidentals or changes in key.

achromatic

/ ˌækrəˈmætɪk; əˈkrəʊməˌtɪzəm; əˌkrəʊməˈtɪsɪtɪ /

adjective

1. without colour
2. capable of reflecting or refracting light without chromatic aberration
3. cytology
   1. not staining with standard dyes
   2. of or relating to achromatin
4. music
   1. involving no sharps or flats
   2. another word for diatonic
5. denoting a person who is an achromat

achromatic

/ ăk′rə-măt′ĭk /

1. Designating color perceived to have zero saturation and therefore no hue, such as neutral grays, white, or black.

Derived Forms

• achromatism, noun
• ˌachroˈmatically, adverb

Other Words From

• achro·mati·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of achromatic¹

First recorded in 1760–70; a- ⁶ + chromatic

Example Sentences

Instead, brown, gray, beige and white are dominant, an achromatic palette whose gloomy drabness is only relieved by the surprisingly wide variety of neutrals the artist employs.

From Los Angeles Times

“He makes the decision to more or less abandon color and make these achromatic paintings with incredible permutations within them,” she said.

From New York Times

Unlike some of the artist’s best-known works, which wow with saturations and transformations of color, “Avaar” is achromatic — using only white light.

From New York Times

The moneyed, achromatic 2010s could give way to a more fascinating and unpredictable cultural landscape, with once marginalized communities asserting themselves.

From The Guardian

The principal’s office was a cramped, achromatic cubicle separated from the library door by a glass trophy case that overflowed with the gilded booty of athletics earned over the past thirty years.

From Literature