Gray vs. Grey — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on September 21, 2023
Gray and Grey are both correct spellings for the color that is a mixture of black and white. Gray is more common in American English, while Grey is commonly used in British English.
Difference Between Gray and Grey
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
The word Gray is primarily associated with American English and is the spelling you'll most commonly encounter in American publications and everyday language. Whether you're reading a book published in the United States or looking at color options for a car, "gray" will be the default spelling.
Grey, on the other hand, is the preferred spelling in British English. It is the version of the word you'll commonly see in British publications, as well as other countries that follow British spelling conventions. This variant is as accepted in the UK as "gray" is in the U.S.
Both Gray and Grey refer to the same color, a mixture of black and white. The words are identical in meaning and can be used interchangeably, depending on the audience or regional preference. It is worth noting that the different spellings have no impact on the meaning or interpretation of the word.
When writing professionally, it's essential to be consistent. If you're writing for an American audience or following American English style guidelines, stick with Gray. Conversely, if you're writing for a British audience or following UK English style guidelines, use Grey.
Despite the difference in spelling, the two words are phonetically identical, making the choice between Gray and Grey purely a matter of regional preference and writing convention. Both spellings are correct and convey the same meaning, so your decision on which to use depends on your audience and the standard you are following.
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Comparison Chart
Spelling Origin
American English
British English
Common Usage
United States
United Kingdom and other countries following British English
Meaning
A color between black and white
A color between black and white
Phonetics
Same as Grey
Same as Gray
Consistency
Used consistently in American publications
Used consistently in British publications
Compare with Definitions
Gray
The American English spelling for the color between black and white.
The sky was gray and overcast.
Grey
Used in British publications and documents.
The grey car is parked over there.
Gray
Consistent with American English spelling rules.
The paint color is called Modern Gray.
Grey
Consistent with British English spelling rules.
The paint color is called Modern Grey.
Gray
US spelling of grey
Grey
The British English spelling for the color between black and white.
The sky was grey in London.
Gray
The SI unit of the absorbed dose of ionizing radiation, corresponding to one joule per kilogram.
Grey
Symbolic of neutrality or ambiguity.
The issue was a grey area.
Gray
Of or relating to an achromatic color of any lightness between the extremes of black and white.
Grey
Grey or gray (American English alternative; see spelling differences) is an intermediate color between black and white. It is a neutral color or achromatic color, meaning literally that it is a color "without color", because it can be composed of black and white.
Gray
Dull or dark
A gray, rainy afternoon.
Grey
Of a colour intermediate between black and white, as of ashes or lead
Grey flannel trousers
His hair was grey and wispy
Gray
Lacking in cheer; gloomy
A gray mood.
Grey
Without interest or character; dull and nondescript
Grey, faceless men
The grey daily routine
Gray
Having gray hair; hoary.
Grey
(of financial or trading activity) not accounted for in official statistics
The grey economy
Gray
Old or venerable.
Grey
Relating to an ethnically mixed residential area
A grey Cape Town suburb
Gray
Intermediate in character or position, as with regard to a subjective matter
The gray area between their differing opinions on the film's morality.
Grey
Grey colour or pigment
Dirty intermediate tones of grey
Gray
An achromatic color of any lightness between the extremes of black and white.
Grey
A grey thing or animal, in particular a grey or white horse.
Gray
An object or animal of the color gray.
Grey
(especially of hair) become grey with age
He had put on weight and greyed somewhat
Gray
A member of the Confederate Army in the Civil War.
Grey
Variant of gray1.
Gray
The Confederate Army.
Grey
Standard spelling of from2=Commonwealth
Gray
The SI unit for the energy absorbed from ionizing radiation, equal to one joule per kilogram.
Grey
Standard spelling of from2=Commonwealth
Gray
To make gray.
Grey
Standard spelling of from2=Commonwealth
Gray
To become gray.
Grey
See Gray (the correct orthography).
Gray
To become old; age.
Grey
United States writer of western adventure novels (1875-1939)
Gray
To include a large or increasing proportion of older people
"Federal food programs can't keep up with the nation's rapidly graying population" (Michael J. McCarthy).
Grey
Queen of England for nine days in 1553; she was quickly replaced by Mary Tudor and beheaded for treason (1537-1554)
Gray
Having a color somewhere between white and black, as the ash of an ember.
Grey
Englishman who as Prime minister implemented social reforms including the abolition of slavery throughout the British Empire (1764-1845)
Gray
Dreary, gloomy.
Grey
Any organization or party whose uniforms or badges are gray;
The Confederate army was a vast gray
Gray
Having an indistinct, disputed or uncertain quality.
Grey
A neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
Gray
Gray-haired.
Grey
Gray clothing;
He was dressed in gray
Gray
Old.
Grey
Make gray;
The painter decided to grey the sky
Gray
Relating to older people.
The gray dollar, i.e. the purchasing power of the elderly
Grey
Turn gray;
Her hair began to gray
Gray
To become gray.
My hair is beginning to gray.
Grey
An achromatic color of any lightness between the extremes of black and white;
Gray flannel suit
Hair just turning gray
Gray
To cause to become gray.
Grey
Showing characteristics of age, especially having gray or white hair;
Whose beard with age is hoar
Nodded his hoary head
Gray
To turn progressively older, alluding to graying of hair through aging (used in context of the population of a geographic region)
The graying of America
Grey
Used to signify the Confederate forces in the Civil War (who wore gray uniforms);
A stalwart gray figure
Gray
To give a soft effect to (a photograph) by covering the negative while printing with a ground-glass plate.
Grey
Intermediate in character or position;
A gray area between clearly legal and strictly illegal
Gray
An achromatic colour intermediate between black and white.
Grey
Darkened with overcast;
A dark day
A dull sky
A gray rainy afternoon
Gray clouds
The sky was leaden and thick
Gray
An animal or thing of grey colour, such as a horse, badger, or salmon.
Grey
Spelled with an "e" in British English.
The elephant was grey.
Gray
An extraterrestrial humanoid with grayish skin, bulbous black eyes, and an enlarged head.
Gray
A penny with a tail on both sides, used for cheating.
Gray
In the International System of Units, the derived unit of absorbed dose of radiation (radiation absorbed by a patient); one joule of energy absorbed per kilogram of the patient's mass. Symbol: Gy
Gray
Any color of neutral hue between white and black; white mixed with black, as the color of pepper and salt, or of ashes, or of hair whitened by age; sometimes, a dark mixed color; as, the soft gray eye of a dove.
These gray and dun colors may be also produced by mixing whites and blacks.
Gray
Gray-haired; gray-headed; of a gray color; hoary.
Gray
Old; mature; as, gray experience.
Gray
Gloomy; dismal.
Gray
A gray color; any mixture of white and black; also, a neutral or whitish tint.
Gray
An animal or thing of gray color, as a horse, a badger, or a kind of salmon.
Woe worth the chase, woe worth the day.That coats thy life, my gallant gray.
Gray
The Confederate army or a soldier in the confederate army; as, a battle between the blue and the gray.
Gray
The SI unit of absorbed dosage of ionizing radiation, equal to an absorbed energy of 1 joule per kilogram of irradiated material; - abbreviated Gy. This unit is 100 times the commonly used unit, the rad.
Gray
A neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
Gray
Gray clothing;
He was dressed in gray
Gray
Any organization or party whose uniforms or badges are gray;
The Confederate army was a vast gray
Gray
Horse of a light grey or whitish color
Gray
English poet best known for his elegy written in a country church-yard (1716-1771)
Gray
American navigator who twice circumnavigated the globe and who discovered the Columbia River (1755-1806)
Gray
United States botanist who specialized in North American flora and who was an early supporter of Darwin's theories of evolution (1810-1888)
Gray
Make gray;
The painter decided to grey the sky
Gray
Turn gray;
Her hair began to gray
Gray
An achromatic color of any lightness between the extremes of black and white;
Gray flannel suit
Hair just turning gray
Gray
Showing characteristics of age, especially having gray or white hair;
Whose beard with age is hoar
Nodded his hoary head
Gray
Darkened with overcast;
A dark day
A dull sky
A gray rainy afternoon
Gray clouds
The sky was leaden and thick
Gray
Used to signify the Confederate forces in the Civil War (who wore gray uniforms);
A stalwart gray figure
Gray
Intermediate in character or position;
A gray area between clearly legal and strictly illegal
Gray
Used in American publications and documents.
The gray car is mine.
Gray
Spelled with an "a" in American English.
The elephant was gray.
Gray
Indicates neither black nor white, often symbolic of uncertainty.
The issue is not black and white; it's gray.
Common Curiosities
Is Gray the correct spelling?
Both Gray and Grey are correct; Gray is the American English spelling.
Are Gray and Grey interchangeable?
Yes, but the usage depends on the regional or audience preference.
Is Gray used in American publications?
Yes, Gray is the preferred spelling in American English.
How is Grey pronounced?
Grey and Gray are phonetically identical.
How is Gray pronounced?
Gray and Grey are phonetically identical.
Is Grey the correct spelling?
Both Grey and Gray are correct; Grey is the British English spelling.
Do Gray and Grey mean the same?
Yes, they both refer to the color that is a mixture of black and white.
Are there any color shades specific to Gray or Grey?
No, the shade of the color doesn't affect the spelling.
What does Gray symbolize?
Gray can symbolize neutrality or ambiguity.
Is Grey used in British publications?
Yes, Grey is the preferred spelling in British English.
Can I use Gray in British English?
While understood, Grey is the conventional British spelling.
What does Grey symbolize?
Grey can also symbolize neutrality or ambiguity.
Can I use Grey in American English?
While understood, Gray is the conventional American spelling.
Are there brand names that use Gray or Grey?
Yes, some brands may use either spelling, depending on their origin or target audience.
Should I stick to one spelling in a document?
Yes, consistency is key. Choose Gray for American audiences and Grey for British audiences.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
