pink

Pink is a pale tint of red, produced by mixing red with white. It is not a wavelength of light in itself; in additive color systems such as RGB, pink arises from bright red combined with white or with other colors to increase lightness. Common shades include pastel pink, hot pink, and rose or blush.

The color name pink is derived from the common name for the flowers of the genus Dianthus, often called pinks. The term in English started to be used for the color in the 17th to 18th centuries. Pink has been used in fashion and art for centuries and appears in many cultural contexts as a soft, light, and approachable hue.

Pink's associations vary, but often evoke tenderness, romance, or femininity. In design, it can convey whimsy or calmness depending on intensity. Lighting, saturation, and context strongly affect perception. In nature, many organisms appear pink due to pigments such as carotenoids; some animals (for example, pink flamingos) display pink coloration from their diet. As a symbol, pink ribbons are widely used to raise awareness for breast cancer.

The term pink also appears as a given name, a surname, and as the stage name of the American singer-songwriter Alecia Beth Moore, who performs under the name Pink.