colorant

This term refers specifically to the additive substance used to impart color, distinguishing the agent itself from the resulting color or the process of coloring. It is most frequently encountered in technical, industrial, or regulatory contexts, such as food science, chemistry, and manufacturing. In commercial labeling, the word carries a clinical or chemical connotation, often used to describe synthetic or natural additives in cosmetics and processed foods where "dye" might feel too simplistic or "pigment" too specific to art.