Cadet

HEX: #536872 | Modern Palette

On White
5.85:1
PASS
On Black
3.59:1
FAIL

Color Specifications

HEX
#536872
RGB
83, 104, 114
HSL
199°, 27% ,44%
CMYK
27.19, 8.77, 0, 55.29

About Cadet

Cadet (#536872) is a color with RGB(83, 104, 114) and HSL(199.35°, 27.19%, 44.71%). It is commonly associated with Calm moods. In design, it fits Muted, Cool styles and is suitable for Text, Border, Print. Its complementary color is #725D53, which creates strong contrast. Its triadic palette includes #725368 and #687253. The name comes from cadet (French).

  • HEX: #536872
  • RGB: 83, 104, 114
  • HSL: 199.35°, 27.19%, 44.71%
  • Mood: Calm
  • Style: Muted, Cool
  • Use case: Text, Border, Print
  • Complementary color: #725D53
  • Triadic colors: #725368, #687253
  • The name comes from cadet (French).

Live Components

LIGHT
DARK
System Notification Box

Color Palettes

Cadet #536872 is used in Monochromatic, Neutral + Accent, Analogous, 3 + 1 + 1 palettes, giving designers ready-made combinations for backgrounds, surfaces, accents, and interface elements.

Monochromatic Five tones of the same hue — a reliable scale for backgrounds, surfaces, and text.
 
CADET
 
 
 
Neutral + Accent Four near-neutral tones grounded by a saturated accent — clean and versatile for UI.
 
 
CADET
 
 
Analogous Five hues drifting across a 60° arc — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.
 
 
 
 
 
3 + 1 + 1 Three analogous base colors, one complementary accent, one dark anchor — bold yet balanced.
 
 
 
 
 

Color Harmonies

Cadet #536872 pairs with #725D53 as its complementary color, and #725368 and #687253 in triadic combinations. These harmony relationships help create balanced color combinations for UI, branding, and design work.

Complementary

The color directly opposite on the color wheel — creates maximum contrast and vibrance.

CADET
Analogous

Colors adjacent on the wheel — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.

CADET
Triadic

Three colors equally spaced 120° apart — bold, balanced, and visually rich.

CADET
Split-Complementary

Two colors flanking the complement — high contrast with less tension than full complementary.

CADET
Tetradic (Square)

Four colors at 90° intervals — rich variety, best when one color dominates.

CADET
Monochromatic

Shades and tints of the same hue — cohesive, elegant, and easy to work with.

CADET

Shades & Tints

The shade and tint range for Cadet #536872 moves from dark #0B0D0F tones through the base color to lighter #F0F3F4 tones, making it useful for depth, hierarchy, and background variation.

CADET

Color Characteristics

Mood
Calm
Style
Muted Cool
Use case
Text Border Print

Accessibility Simulation

Deuteranopia #626272
Protanopia #666672
Tritanopia #516969
Achromatopsia #656565

Frequently Asked Questions

Cadet (#536872) is a color with RGB(83, 104, 114) and HSL(199.35°, 27.19%, 44.71%).

#536872 pairs strongly with #725D53 as its complementary color. It can also be used with neutral tones for balanced UI and design layouts.

#536872 is suitable for Text, Border, Print and works well with Muted, Cool styles.

#536872 is commonly associated with Calm.

The name Cadet is linked to cadet from French, meaning younger son, junior.

Name, History & Etymology

Origin Word cadet
Meaning younger son, junior
Language French
First Recorded Use 17th Century

History

The word "cadet" entered English from French in the early 17th century. In French, 'cadet' originally referred to the younger son of a noble family, particularly one who would typically pursue a military career as they would not inherit the family estate. This sense of 'junior' or 'younger' is key to its evolution. Over time, it specifically came to mean a student in a military or naval academy, or a trainee in a police force, reflecting the idea of someone in a junior, training position within a structured organization, often with a military or paramilitary connection. The term also has roots in Gascon 'capdet' meaning 'little chief' or 'head', which further emphasizes the idea of a junior leader or someone in a position of training for leadership.

First Recorded Use

1610s (English)

Cultural Associations

The term 'cadet' is widely recognized globally, particularly in countries with strong military traditions or those influenced by European military structures. It evokes images of discipline, training, and a path towards leadership within uniformed services. Military academies often have a distinct 'cadet culture' that emphasizes camaraderie, rigorous training, and adherence to a strict code of conduct. The concept of a 'cadet branch' in heraldry or genealogy refers to a junior line of a family, often descended from a younger son, maintaining the original sense of the word.

Similar Named Colors
Deep Space Sparkle #4A646C ΔE 3.02
Dark Electric Blue #536878 ΔE 3.09
Stormcloud #4F666A ΔE 3.79
Teal Blue #367588 ΔE 8.86

Code Snippets

/* Background */
.element {
    background-color: #536872;
}

/* Text */
.element {
    color: #536872;
}

/* Border */
.element {
    border: 1px solid #536872;
}

/* Linear gradient to complementary */
.element {
    background: linear-gradient(
        to right,
        #536872,
        #916753
    );
}

/* Radial gradient */
.element {
    background: radial-gradient(
        circle,
        #536872,
        #916753
    );
}

// SCSS variable
$cadet: #536872;

// With RGB channels (useful for rgba() usage)
$cadet-r: 83;
$cadet-g: 104;
$cadet-b: 114;

// Usage
.element {
    background-color: $cadet;
    color: rgba($cadet-r, $cadet-g, $cadet-b, 0.8);
}