grey

adjective

less common spelling of gray

1
a
: of the color gray
b
: tending toward gray
blue-gray eyes
c
: dull in color
2
: having gray hair
grew old and gray
3
: clothed in gray
4
a
: lacking cheer or brightness in mood, outlook, style, or flavor
also : dismal, gloomy
a gray day
b
: prosaically ordinary : dull, uninteresting
… the … boring, gray dullness of government …P. J. O'Rourke
5
: having an intermediate and often vaguely defined position, condition, or character
an ethically gray area
Usage of Gray and Grey

Gray and grey are both accepted spellings. Gray is more frequent in US English, while grey is preferred in Canada, the UK, and elsewhere.

Examples of grey in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The bluebuck had a shiny blue-grey coat, striking horns, a unique facial pattern, and, compared to other antelope relatives, was smaller, standing at about four feet tall at the shoulder with horns reaching nearly two feet. Mike Snider, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2026 The 6-foot man was wearing a grey long-sleeve shirt with a grey vest, blue jeans, and white sneakers, NBC Connecticut reported. Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 30 Apr. 2026 For his look, Scott opted for a grey suit jacket, button-up dress shirt, and matching slacks. Charmaine Patterson, PEOPLE, 28 Apr. 2026 Talley, in a white T-shirt and grey sweatpants, kept his head down and did not answer. Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for grey

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Cite this Entry

“Grey.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grey. Accessed 2 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

grey

variant of gray

Medical Definition

grey, greyout

chiefly British variant of gray, grayout

Biographical Definition

Grey 1 of 4

biographical name (1)

2nd Earl 1764–1845 Charles Grey English statesman; prime minister (1830–34)

Grey

2 of 4

biographical name (2)

Sir Edward 1862–1933 Viscount Grey of Fallodon ˈfa-lə-dᵊn How to pronounce Grey (audio) English politician

Grey

3 of 4

biographical name (3)

Lady Jane 1537–1554 titular queen of England for 9 days

Grey

4 of 4

biographical name (4)

Zane 1875–1939 American novelist

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