Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

trichromat

noun

/ˈtraɪ.kroʊ.mæt/

Definition

A trichromat is an organism or a person with three types of color receptors in their eyes, allowing them to perceive a wide range of colors.

Examples

Many humans are trichromats, capable of seeing millions of colors due to their three photoreceptor types.
Some species of birds are also trichromats, which helps them in finding food and mates.
In contrast, dichromats have only two types of color receptors and thus perceive fewer colors.

Meaning

The term trichromat is often used in the context of vision and refers to individuals or species that can distinguish colors due to having three different photopigments, typically associated with the three primary colors: red, green, and blue.