Coloration is the pattern and arrangement of colors on something, especially on animals and plants. A zebra's black-and-white striped coloration helps it blend into tall grass when predators are nearby. A monarch butterfly's bright orange coloration warns birds that it tastes terrible and shouldn't be eaten.

Scientists study coloration because it reveals how creatures survive in their environments. Some animals have camouflage coloration that makes them nearly invisible, like a walking stick insect that looks exactly like a twig. Other animals have warning coloration, bright colors that signal danger: poison dart frogs display brilliant blues and reds that tell predators to stay away.

Coloration can change with the seasons too. Arctic foxes have white coloration in winter to hide in snow, then shift to brown coloration in summer to match the tundra. Male peacocks develop spectacular coloration to attract mates, while females have duller coloration that helps them stay hidden while nesting.

The word works for nonliving things as well. An artist might experiment with the coloration of a painting, adjusting the blues and greens until the ocean scene looks just right.