---
title: "10 Rare color words that describe rainbows/multiple colors"
url: "https://writing-games.org/extras/rare-color-words-for-rainbows/"
canonical: "https://writing-games.org/extras/rare-color-words-for-rainbows/"
type: "extras"
published: "2023-01-21T17:13:00-06:00"
modified: "2026-01-09T08:32:20-06:00"
author: "Andruid"
author_url: "https://writing-games.org/author/andruid/"
author_bio: "Andruid (she/her) is a writer, roleplayer, storyteller, and nerd who tries to live by Bill and Ted wisdom, i.e. \"Be excellent to each other.\" She created Writing Games to share lessons learned and to introduce new players to the world of text-based games."
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publisher: "Writing Games"
publisher_url: "https://writing-games.org/"
categories:
  - "Supporter Extras"
tags:
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  - "Storytelling"
  - "Writing"
---

# 10 Rare color words that describe rainbows/multiple colors

As a little bonus for supporters of the blog, I put together this list of 10 rare color words. Unlike the terms in my post on [Rare colors](https://writing-games.org/rare-colors-list/), these words all describe rainbows or things that have more than one color.

I tried to choose a variety of words more interesting than bicolored, tricolored, and multi-hued. As usual, I included etymology hints and links to external resources, in case you'd like to learn more about the terms and their origins.

I hope you like them!

## 10 Color terms to describe rainbows or multiple colors

1. [**chatoyant**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chatoyancy) - displaying bands of color due to the way light is reflected from the surface, such as from a Tiger's eye gemstone - "chat" means "cat" in French.
2. [**iridescent**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iridescence) - displaying a rainbow of colors, from the root word "iris" which means "rainbow" in Greek.
3. **iridian** - rainbowlike or having to do with rainbows.
4. **kaleidoscopic** - displaying many or changing colors, as in a kaleidoscope.
5. **motley** - as in a "motley of colors", marked by a patchwork of colors; the traditional [costume of a court jester](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motley). Can also mean "incongruously varied in appearance."
6. **nacreous** - resembling mother-of-pearl ([nacre](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nacre)).
7. **opalescent** - iridescent; displaying a rainbow of colors, possibly with flecks (as in the gem [opal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opal)).
8. **pearlescent** - iridescent; displaying a rainbow of colors, typically with a soft luster or sheen as seen in pearls. Pearlescent is an adjective often applied to vehicle paint jobs and lustrous two-toned fabrics such as taffeta.
9. [**polychromatic**](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/polychromatic) - many-colored; in the art world, commonly describes art or photography that uses two or more colors as opposed to just one color (monochromatic).
10. **variegated** - marked by a variety of colors, often in streaks - such as with variegated [plant leaves](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variegation).

Thank you so much for supporting Writing Games! Your support is a huge source of motivation and encouragement for me, and the blog wouldn't be what it is today without it. 💜