Having color rather than being black, white, or transparent; historically used as a racial classification, now considered outdated and potentially offensive.
From 'color' plus the suffix '-ed', from Latin 'color' meaning 'hue, tint'. The racial usage developed in American English during slavery and segregation periods, but has been largely replaced by more respectful terminology.
The word 'colored' shows how language reflects social attitudes - what was once considered a polite term became offensive as society recognized the importance of how we classify and describe people. In South Africa, 'Coloured' remains an official racial category with different historical and cultural connotations than in American usage.
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