Variegated means marked with different colors, especially in irregular patches or streaks. A variegated leaf might show green mixed with cream, white, or yellow, creating a natural pattern that makes each leaf unique. Variegated hostas, popular in many gardens, display this beautiful mixing of colors across their foliage.

The word is most commonly used to describe plants. Plant enthusiasts prize variegated varieties because they add visual interest to gardens and indoor spaces. A plain green pothos vine is lovely, but a variegated pothos with splashes of white or yellow becomes something special.

You might also encounter variegated describing other naturally patterned things, like the variegated plumage of certain birds or variegated marble with veins of different colors running through it. The key is that the colors appear mixed together in a pattern, not carefully painted on or arranged by a person. When something is variegated, the pattern is part of the thing itself, making each example one of a kind.