Legal Definitions - give color

Definition: Give color is a legal term that means to admit, either expressly or impliedly, that an opponent's allegations appear to be meritorious. In common-law pleading, a defendant's plea of confession and avoidance had to give color to the plaintiff's allegations in the complaint or the plea would be fatally defective.

Example: If a plaintiff sues a defendant for trespassing on their land, the defendant may give color by admitting that the plaintiff appears to have a right to the land but then claim that their own right to the land is superior. This allows the defendant to plead their own title to the land, which would otherwise be considered a general denial of the charge.

This example illustrates how give color is used in common-law pleading to allow a defendant to admit the plaintiff's apparent right to something while still asserting their own superior right.