crayon

American  

[krey-on, -uhn] / ˈkreɪ ɒn, -ən /

noun

1. a pointed stick or pencil of colored clay, chalk, wax, etc., used for drawing or coloring.

2. a drawing in crayons.

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verb (used with object)

1. to draw or color with a crayon or crayons.

verb (used without object)

1. to make a drawing with crayons.

crayon British  

/ ˈkreɪən, -ɒn /

noun

1. a small stick or pencil of charcoal, wax, clay, or chalk mixed with coloured pigment

2. a drawing made with crayons

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verb

1. to draw or colour with crayons

Other Word Forms

• crayonist noun

Etymology

Origin of crayon

1635–45; < French, equivalent to craie chalk (< Latin crēta clay, chalk) + -on noun suffix

Example Sentences

As seen in the exhibition, his Conté crayon drawings from these months informed his paintings, which pointedly eschewed any hint of the picturesque and also of Impressionist painting.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 28, 2026

Scribbles, doodles, crayon marks and stickers — evoking Lisa Frank and anime cartoons — have begun appearing on prominent Gen Z contemporary fiction covers.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 16, 2026

“You are smart and kind,” she wrote in pencil, the handwriting surrounded by crayon hearts.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 24, 2025

The future Queen Elizabeth I was 12 years old at the time — long past the age in which a ghastly crayon drawing of dad would suffice.

From Salon • Dec. 23, 2024

Her crayon drawings of New Orleans looked so childish.

From "The Son of Neptune" by Rick Riordan

Related Words

• pastel