color temperature

noun

: the temperature at which a blackbody emits radiant energy competent to evoke a color the same as that evoked by radiant energy from a given source (such as a lamp)

Examples of color temperature in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The brightness of the Kindle’s front light can be manually adjusted, while the Paperwhite’s front light is adjustable for both screen brightness and color temperature, and has a light sensor to dim or brighten the screen based on your environment. — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 1 Oct. 2026

Gibbs recommends keeping the color temperature at 2700K for a warm glow. — Shagun Khare, The Spruce, 23 Sep. 2026

Choose bedside reading light bulbs of warm white, deep amber or red that have low or near-zero effective color temperatures. — Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2026

The color temperature was initially 4200 K, which produces a cooler white light, but after conducting a survey, the creators changed it to a warmer 3800 K. — Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 1 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1916, in the meaning defined above