Colorfast

adj.resilient, capableprofessional

What it means

Resistant to fading or releasing dye under specified conditions.

Reach for it when describing material whose color remains stable in washing, light, or use

The colorfast thread kept the outdoor banner legible after repeated rain.

everyday
nonbleeding
dye does not visibly transfer into wash water or nearby fabric
not when Nonbleeding ignores gradual fading and may overpromise without test conditions.
professional
fade-resistant
resistance to loss of color from light or time is the claim
not when Fade resistance says nothing about dye running during washing.
professional
lightfast
resistance to fading under light exposure is specifically measured
not when Lightfast material can still bleed or change during laundering.
formal
washfast
color stability through washing is the tested property
not when Washfast is technical and cannot support a sunlight-exposure claim.
literary
color-retentive
the material keeps its original hue
not when Readers may not know color-retentive, and it leaves the relevant stress unnamed.

colorfast fabric
Colorfast fabric kept the uniforms consistent across many washes.
colorfast dye
The colorfast dye passed the specified rubbing and washing tests.
remain colorfast
Samples remained colorfast under indoor light but not direct summer sun.

Colorfast is condition-specific. A credible claim names the relevant test, such as washing, rubbing, or light exposure.

The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.