greige

1 of 2

adjective

1
ˈgrā(zh) How to pronounce greige (audio) : being in an unbleached undyed state as taken from a loom
used of textiles
greige cloth
2
ˈgrāzh How to pronounce greige (audio) : of a color that blends gray and beige : of the color greige
greige walls

greige

2 of 2

noun

plural greiges
: a variable color that blends gray and beige
Warm greiges makes a room look soft and casual. Cool greiges make a room look clean and crisp.Ginna Parsons
Her colors were very sophisticated. She particularly liked beige, greige, gray, earth tones, off-black, and the occasional red.Kennedy Fraser

Examples of greige in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Tan and beige, taupe and greige, and pale, watery blues. Jennifer Cegielski, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 July 2022 Meghan made a stylish appearance in a white Valentino suit at the Invictus Games back in April before her turn in a greige Dior set and matching Stephen Jones hat for the National Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral yesterday. Hayley Maitland, Vogue, 4 June 2022 Her red dress was replaced with a greige three-piece set. Gabi Thorne, Allure, 11 Feb. 2022 Floor colors are also getting warmer, as buyers steer away from gray and even greige toward taupe and natural wood tones. Marni Jameson, orlandosentinel.com, 19 Nov. 2021 The walls, formerly white, were coated in a greige Keim mineral paint. Robert Rufino, House Beautiful, 8 Apr. 2021 From soft whites and creams to light brown paint colors and everything in between (greige paint colors, anyone?), these do-it-all shades are perfect for any room, aesthetic, and price point. Chelsea Evers, Country Living, 5 Dec. 2019 Contestants gathered in a big, unfailingly over-warm tent, clad in their Marks-and-Sparks separates and their greige aprons, awkwardly enthusiastic about being on television but entirely committed to proving themselves as Britain’s best bakers. Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 3 Oct. 2019 When used strategically, greige paint can have a transformative effect on a space. Monique Valeris, ELLE Decor, 27 Feb. 2019
Noun
Sherwin-Williams’ Black Fox (SW 7020) delivers a similar look thanks to greige undertones that prevent it from feeling too stark or standoffish. Grace Haynes, Southern Living, 13 Mar. 2024 In this kitchen, a deep shade of greige is balanced by white beaded-board paneling and a khaki-colored ceiling. Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Dec. 2023 Over Champagne and caviar, guests including AnnaSophia Robb, Thomas Doherty, and Coco Rocha perused the new space filled with the brand’s ready-to-wear and accessories in this season’s copper, blush, pink, and signature greige tones. Mario Abad, Vogue, 19 Oct. 2023 This is a hue that, after spending decades in color-spectrum Siberia, was recently dignified when Pantone nominated Viva Magenta as 2023’s Color of the Year—take that and stick it, stealth-wealth greige. Rebecca Mead, The New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2023 In addition to lavender, blue salt, and sage, the Loop Napkins also come in a neutral greige color called steam. Nicola Fumo, Peoplemag, 26 Sep. 2023 Michael Kors’s cashmere iteration in soft greige was a nod to bohemian elegance, and Chloé presented an ethereal silk chiffon wrap, while Carolina Herrera and Chiara Boni opted for structured versions. Isiah Magsino, Town & Country, 2 Sep. 2023 Shop a similar shade of light blue below: BUY NOW Benjamin Moore Deep Royal, $55 18 Greige, Cream, and Muted Mint A greige tone is used for the cabinets while a cream tone is used on the ceiling and accent wall. Hadley Mendelsohn, House Beautiful, 9 Aug. 2023 Homes with charcoal rooms, regardless of the space (Zillow looked at living rooms, bathrooms, kitchens, and bedrooms), brought higher offers, surpassing neutral juggernauts like greige and—yes—even white. Anna Fixsen, ELLE Decor, 20 June 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'greige.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

borrowed from French grège "raw, unfinished (of silk)," going back to Middle French, borrowed from Italian greggio (Upper Italian grezzo) "in its natural state, unfinished," perhaps going back to Vulgar Latin *gregius "plain, ordinary" (formed as a counterpart to Latin ēgregius "outstanding, first-rate"), derivative of Latin greg-, grex "flock, herd, troop"; later construed in English as a blend of gray entry 1 and beige entry 2 — more at egregious

Noun

derivative of greige entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1835, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1911, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of greige was in 1835

Dictionary Entries Near greige

Cite this Entry

“Greige.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/greige. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!