painted

American  

[peyn-tid] / ˈpeɪn tɪd /

adjective

1. reproduced or represented in paint.

   a painted image.

2. covered with a coating of paint.

   a painted chair.

3. unreal; artificial; feigned.

   a painted life.

4. exaggerated or misrepresented.

   a luridly painted version of what really happened.

5. covered with makeup, especially to excess.

6. brightly colored or multicolored (used in combinations).

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Other Word Forms

• unpainted adjective
• well-painted adjective

Etymology

Origin of painted

Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; see origin at paint, -ed ²

Explanation

Anything that's painted is either covered or decorated with paint. Brightly painted walls can cheer up a room that would otherwise be dark and dull. Your colorfully painted kitchen chairs are coated with different shades of paint, and your painted fingernails might be dabbed with shiny silver nail polish. Several types of animals are also painted because they have bright or varied stripes of color on their bodies — like painted turtles' colorful shells and painted storks' bright feathers. Painted comes from paint and its Latin root, pingere, "to paint, embroider, or tattoo."

Example Sentences

The walls of one of the rooms in the centre were painted with motivational messages, such as "Money Coming From Everywhere" in Chinese letters.

From BBC • Apr. 18, 2026

Prosecutors painted the picture of a privileged woman who was driven by greed and status.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

Steyer, who has a net worth of $2.4 billion according to Forbes, has painted himself as a reformed billionaire who walked away from Farallon because of angst about how he earned his fortune.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 6, 2026

Ortiz, who often painted Cynthia’s nails for her, knew immediately.

From Slate • Apr. 6, 2026

Then, as she disappeared inside, I glanced at the sign painted on the front window.

From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan

Related Words

• composed
• designed
• illustrated