person of color

[ pur-suhn uhv kuhl-er ]

noun

, plural people of color, persons of color.

1. a person who is not white:

   The corporation was especially eager to recruit women and people of color.

Sensitive Note

See Black ¹.

Word History and Origins

Origin of person of color¹

First recorded in 1785–90

Idioms and Phrases

A nonwhite person, such as someone of African or Native American descent. For example, They have made a genuine effort to promote persons of color to executive positions . This seemingly modern euphemism actually dates from the late 1700s and was revived in the late 1900s.

Example Sentences

The Grammy winner, 32, said she is the only person of color in her neighborhood and vowed to track down the person who called CPS.

From Los Angeles Times

In about 77% of cases where the race of the defendant has been identified, he said, the accused was a person of color.

From Los Angeles Times

Unfortunately, it is only a matter of time before a Haitian or other person of color is injured or killed because of Trump and his propagandists’ racist lies and provocations.

From Salon

I do think that being a content creator and being a person of color in this industry, it is difficult.

From Los Angeles Times

“That concerns me, because what if it’s just someone who’s a person of color that’s standing at the school bus stop, or what if it’s a parent that’s mistaken as one of these individuals?”

From Los Angeles Times