local color: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal/Informal (primarily used in literary, artistic, and travel contexts)
Quick answer
What does “local color” mean?
The distinctive customs, manner of speech, dress, scenery, or other features of a particular place or period that give it a unique character, especially when used in artistic works.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The distinctive customs, manner of speech, dress, scenery, or other features of a particular place or period that give it a unique character, especially when used in artistic works.
Details added to a story, film, or description to make a setting seem more authentic, vivid, or realistic; often used to evoke a strong sense of a specific time and place.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
British English primarily uses the spelling 'local colour'. American English uses both 'local color' and 'local colour', with 'color' being the dominant spelling in most contemporary usage.
Connotations
Identical in both varieties. The concept is strongly associated with regionalism in literature and travel writing.
Frequency
More frequent in literary, artistic, and travel discourse than in general conversation. Comparable frequency in both varieties within those domains.
Grammar
How to Use “local color” in a Sentence
The novel is rich in + local colour.The author adds local colour by describing + [specific detail].The film captures the local colour of + [place/time].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “local color” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The travel writer sought to local-colour the narrative with dialects and customs.
- (Note: Very rare and non-standard as a verb)
American English
- (Rarely verbed. Standard phrasing is 'add local color to')
adjective
British English
- The novel's local-colour elements fascinated readers.
- (Note: Hyphenated when used attributively before a noun)
American English
- She is a writer in the local-color tradition of American literature.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except perhaps in marketing or tourism contexts (e.g., 'The resort's marketing emphasises local colour to attract travellers seeking authenticity').
Academic
Common in literary criticism, cultural studies, history, and human geography to discuss representation of place.
Everyday
Used in discussions of travel, books, films, or personal experiences of a place (e.g., 'We visited the market for a bit of local colour').
Technical
A recognised term in narratology, literary theory, and adaptation studies.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “local color”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “local color”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “local color”
- Using it as a countable noun (*'a local colour').
- Confusing it with simply describing colours in a location.
- Misspelling 'colour/color' inconsistently within a text.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Generally yes, as it implies richness and authenticity. However, it can be used neutrally to describe a technique, and sometimes critically if the details feel stereotypical or superficially added.
Yes. While often associated with historical or exoticised settings, it can apply to any specific place. A story about Silicon Valley could use tech jargon and specific locations as its local colour.
'Setting' is the general time and place. 'Local colour' refers specifically to the distinctive, vivid details *within* that setting that make it feel real and unique.
Use it as a singular, uncountable noun phrase. E.g., 'The author employs local colour through dialect and detailed depictions of regional cuisine.' Always connect it to specific textual details.
The distinctive customs, manner of speech, dress, scenery, or other features of a particular place or period that give it a unique character, especially when used in artistic works.
Local color is usually formal/informal (primarily used in literary, artistic, and travel contexts) in register.
Local color: in British English it is pronounced /ˌləʊkl ˈkʌlə(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌloʊkl ˈkʌlər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a painter (LOCAL) adding bright COLOUR to a map of a specific town to make it stand out from a bland, grey map of the world. The added colour represents the unique details of that place.
Conceptual Metaphor
PLACE IS A PAINTING (whose unique colours are its distinctive features). AUTHENTICITY IS VIVIDNESS/RICHNESS OF COLOUR.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'local colour' LEAST likely to be used?