Lemon
A vivid yellow named for the colour of lemon fruit
Lemon is a bright yellow colour that takes its name from the lemon fruit. The name has been used in English since 1598, and the colour appears in many shades, from creamy to fluorescent. In the United States, lemon is used in academic dress to represent library and information science.
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- Lemon is a vivid yellow named after the lemon fruit.
- First recorded as a colour name in English in 1598.
- Used in US academic dress for library and information science.
- Includes both creamy and fluorescent shades.
- Defined for screens with the hex code #FFF700.
What colour is Lemon?
Lemon is a strong, vivid yellow that stands out for its brightness and clarity. It is named after the colour of the lemon fruit, though actual lemons can show a range of yellows. The colour can appear in different forms, from creamy pastel tones to bold, fluorescent shades. Lemon is often used where a clear, lively yellow is needed, and it is distinct from darker or more orange-toned yellows.
Where does Lemon come from?
The word 'lemon' for this colour comes from the fruit, and its use as a colour name in English dates back to 1598. Over time, the idea of 'lemon' as a colour has grown to include a variety of yellow shades, some matching the fruit closely and others inspired by lemon-flavoured foods and sweets. The colour is not tied to a single country or region.
Where Lemon is used
Lemon is seen in digital design, where it is defined by the hex code #FFF700. It is also used in textiles, and appears in academic dress in the United States to represent library and information science. Lemon shades are found in crayon and paint sets, and are used for their bright, eye-catching quality.
Yellow around the world
What the yellow family means from country to country.
The yellow disc of the Aboriginal flag is the sun, giver of life. The flag was designed by the Luritja artist Harold Thomas and first flown in Adelaide in 1971.
Sacred and holySource: Australian Aboriginal flagAt the gaye holud, held a day or two before a wedding, relatives rub turmeric paste on the bride and groom. Guests dress in yellow and orange.
Weddings and marriageFestival and celebrationJoySource: Gaye holudOn Pohela Falgun, the first day of spring, young women wear yellow and orange saris, a shade called basanti, with flowers in their hair.
Festival and celebrationNature and renewalJoySource: Pohela FalgunThe Flemish flag is a black lion on yellow, and the Walloon flag a red cockerel on yellow. The language communities are often shown by these colours.
Politics and protestPrideSource: Flag of FlandersThe flag is yellow, the colour of the Sultan. By custom, ordinary people did not wear yellow in the ruler's presence.
Royalty and powerPrideSource: Flag of BruneiThe national football team plays in a yellow shirt with green trim, the canarinho. It was chosen in a newspaper contest after the 1950 World Cup final was lost in white.
Festival and celebrationPrideJoySource: Brazil national football teamShades and relatives of Lemon
There are many related shades, such as lemon chiffon, lemon meringue, lemon glacier, laser lemon, and bitter lemon. Some are creamy or pastel, while others are fluorescent. Citron is a darker, more muted version, and deep lemon is a richer tone. These variations are used in design, fashion, and art, each with its own specific tone.
Colours that go with Lemon
Harmonies are worked out from the value #FFF700. Contrast ratios follow the WCAG 2 formula.
Questions people ask about Lemon
What colour is lemon?
Lemon is a bright, vivid yellow, inspired by the colour of the lemon fruit. It can range from creamy to fluorescent shades.
Where does the name 'lemon' for this colour come from?
The name comes from the lemon fruit. The first recorded use of 'lemon' as a colour name in English was in 1598.
How is lemon used in academic dress?
In the United States, lemon is used in academic regalia to represent library and information science.
Are there different shades of lemon?
Yes, lemon includes a range of shades, such as lemon chiffon, lemon meringue, lemon glacier, and deep lemon, from creamy to fluorescent.
Good reading and sources
- Lemon (color) on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More pictures on Wikimedia CommonsPictures
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Lemon (color)", 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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