Grey
A neutral colour between black and white, seen in clouds, ash, and undyed wool
Grey sits between black and white and is known for being neutral and without chroma. It is the colour of storm clouds, ash, and lead, and has long been linked with undyed wool and plain dress. In art and fashion, grey has played many roles, from backgrounds in old master paintings to uniforms and business suits. It is often associated with neutrality, conformity, and old age in Europe and North America.
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- Grey is the colour of storm clouds, ash, and lead.
- The first use of 'grey' as a colour name in English was in 700 CE.
- Grey is neutral and has no chroma or hue.
- In art, grey is made by mixing black and white.
- Grey is linked with neutrality and conformity in Europe and North America.
What colour is Grey?
Grey is a colour that falls exactly between black and white, making it neutral and achromatic, which means it has no hue. It is the shade of rain clouds, ash from burnt wood, and the metal lead. Grey can appear warm or cool depending on the colours mixed with it, but pure grey is simply a balance of light and dark. It is often seen as plain or subdued compared to more vivid colours.
Where does Grey come from?
The word 'grey' comes from Old English 'grǣġ', with related forms in Dutch and German. The spelling 'grey' is used in most of the English-speaking world, while 'gray' is common in the United States. The first known use of the word as a colour name in English dates to 700 CE. The difference in spelling became fixed around the 20th century.
How Grey is defined
Artists have long made grey by mixing black and white. Adding a touch of red, blue, or yellow can warm or cool the shade. In printing, grey is made by using black ink at lower densities, or by mixing cyan, magenta, and yellow in equal amounts. On screens, grey is created by setting red, green, and blue light to the same value. In web design, the standard grey is #808080.
Where Grey is used
Grey has been widely used in art, fashion, and design. In the Middle Ages, it was the colour of undyed wool and worn by peasants and monks. During the Renaissance, artists used grey underpaintings (grisaille) to create depth. In the 19th century, grey became popular in business suits and military uniforms. Today, it is common in architecture, technology, and digital screens.
What Grey means
In Europe and North America, grey is most often linked with neutrality, conformity, and indifference. It is also associated with old age, humility, and sometimes sadness or boredom. Only a small number of people name grey as their favourite colour. Its meanings can shift depending on context, but it is rarely seen as lively or bold.
How Grey feels
Our sources tie Grey to sadness, grief. Such links differ from one culture to the next.
Shades and relatives of Grey
Grey comes in many shades, from warm to cool, depending on the colours added to black and white. Payne's grey is a well-known bluish-grey used in painting. There are also web colours like 'darkgray' and 'silver', which are lighter or darker versions. Grey can be confused with silver or slate, but pure grey has no shine or strong colour cast.
Colours that go with Grey
Harmonies are worked out from the value #808080. Contrast ratios follow the WCAG 2 formula.
Questions people ask about Grey
What colour is grey?
Grey is the shade between black and white. It is neutral, with no hue, and is seen in things like clouds and ash.
Where does the name 'grey' come from?
The word 'grey' comes from Old English 'grǣġ'. It was first recorded as a colour name in English in 700 CE.
How is grey made in art and printing?
Artists make grey by mixing black and white, sometimes adding other colours to warm or cool the shade. In printing, grey is made by using less black ink or by mixing equal parts of cyan, magenta, and yellow.
What does grey stand for?
In Europe and North America, grey is associated with neutrality, conformity, old age, indifference, and sometimes sadness or humility.
Is there a difference between grey and gray?
Both spellings mean the same colour. 'Grey' is used in most English-speaking countries, while 'gray' is more common in the United States.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Grey", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Rang rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. The swatch is an approximation: named colours are not fixed standards, and every screen shows them a little differently. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
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