Pallet vs Palette vs Palate | Meaning & Examples
The nouns pallet, palette, and palate are pronounced in the same way but have different meanings (i.e., they are homophones).
- A pallet is a platform for storing and transporting things, which can be moved using a special vehicle, and is usually made of wood.
- A palette is a board on which artists arrange and mix paints of different colors while painting. It can also refer to the set of colors used in a painting or design.
- Your palate is the top of the inside of your mouth or means your “sense of taste.”
| Pallet in a sentence | Palette in a sentence | Palate in a sentence |
|---|---|---|
| The bricks were delivered on a pallet. | This is the palette and set of brushes used by the artist to paint her most famous picture. | He burned his palate eating hot pizza. |
| Can you order another pallet of cinder blocks? | The limited palette of blues and whites suggests a cold and isolated environment. | Kimchi will appeal to your palate if you like tangy, savory flavors. |
| We can fit 20 bags of flour on each pallet. | Which of these color palettes would you prefer for the bathroom? | The food was a bit too salty for my palate. |
Palate definition
The noun palate is pronounced in the same way as “pallet” and “palette” and refers to a part of the mouth.
- The palate is the upper section of the inside of your mouth.
- The word palate is also used to mean your sense of taste or your food and drink preferences.
- If you have a good palate, you have a good sense of taste which helps you to appreciate fine food and drink.
- If your palate is jaded, it means that you cannot fully appreciate good food and drink because you have had too much of it.
I don’t like very spicy food; I have quite a bland palate.
She has a discerning palate for cheese.
This dish will excite even the most jaded palate.
Pallet definition
The noun pallet is most commonly used to mean a wooden platform for storing goods that is moved around using a vehicle called a forklift. The word pallet is also sometimes used as an informal unit of measure for goods that are transported on pallets (e.g., “Five pallets of rice”).
In the past, the word pallet described a straw-filled bag used as a mattress or a simple bed. Today, people sometimes use “pallet” to mean “a makeshift bed” (e.g., a pile of blankets on the floor for an overnight guest).
We ordered a pallet of copier paper.
Medieval peasants had to sleep on the floor or pallets.
Palette meaning
A palette is a flat board or a tray for arranging and mixing paints of different colors while you are painting. It can also mean a set of colors or other elements used in a piece of art or design. A makeup palette is a tray containing makeup products (e.g., eyeshadow) in a variety of shades.
This room has been decorated in a rich palette of browns and reds.
The tonal palette includes luscious saxophones and silky strings.
I like this eyeshadow palette because it fits in my bag easily.
Frequently asked questions about pallet vs palette vs palate
- What does color palette mean?
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A color palette is the set of colors used in a painting or design (e.g., “We chose rich shades of orange because we wanted a very warm color palette for this room”).
If you can’t decide whether palette, pallet or palate is the word you need, “pallet” typically means “a wooden platform” and “palate” typically refers to your “sense of taste.”
QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker will help you to use the term “color palette” correctly in your writing.
- What is a palate cleanser?
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A palate cleanser is a food or drink that refreshes your sense of taste to help you appreciate the next thing you will consume (e.g., “White bread is a good palate cleanser for wine tasting”).
You can also use the term “palate cleanser” figuratively to describe anything that offers a refreshing break from an intense or repetitive experience (e.g., “I’ve just finished a very intellectual novel, so I’m going to read a thriller as a palate cleanser”).
On a related note, if you’re having difficulty deciding whether palate, palette, or pallet is the word you need; “palette” typically means “a set of colors” and “pallet” usually refers to “a wooden platform for storing and moving goods.”
QuillBot’s free Paraphraser will help you find alternative ways of expressing the concept of a “palate cleanser” in your writing.
- What is a palette knife?
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A palette knife is a type of knife with a flat, flexible blade that is used for spreading rather than cutting, primarily used in art (“e.g., “Spread the paint using a palette knife”).
“Palette knife” is also the British English term for “offset spatula” or “icing spatula.”
On a related note, QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker will help you to decide if palette, pallet, or palate is the word you need.
