diff --git a/.changeset/cool-lions-glow.md b/.changeset/cool-lions-glow.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0780600
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/cool-lions-glow.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+'@tenphi/glaze': patch
+---
+
+Add `inherit` flag to color definitions to prevent inheritance during `extend()`
diff --git a/src/glaze.test.ts b/src/glaze.test.ts
index 59d5a11..ca15378 100644
--- a/src/glaze.test.ts
+++ b/src/glaze.test.ts
@@ -688,6 +688,69 @@ describe('glaze', () => {
       expect(resolved.has('surface')).toBe(true);
       expect(resolved.get('fill')!.mode).toBe('fixed');
     });
+
+    it('excludes colors with inherit: false', () => {
+      const primary = glaze(280, 80);
+      primary.colors({
+        surface: { lightness: 97 },
+        internalFill: { lightness: 52, inherit: false },
+        text: { base: 'surface', contrast: 'AAA' },
+      });
+
+      const child = primary.extend({ hue: 23 });
+      expect(child.has('surface')).toBe(true);
+      expect(child.has('text')).toBe(true);
+      expect(child.has('internalFill')).toBe(false);
+    });
+
+    it('allows re-providing a non-inherited color via extend colors', () => {
+      const primary = glaze(280, 80);
+      primary.colors({
+        surface: { lightness: 97 },
+        fill: { lightness: 52, inherit: false },
+      });
+
+      const child = primary.extend({
+        hue: 23,
+        colors: {
+          fill: { lightness: 60 },
+        },
+      });
+
+      expect(child.has('fill')).toBe(true);
+      const resolved = child.resolve();
+      expect(resolved.has('fill')).toBe(true);
+    });
+
+    it('inherit: false survives export/from round-trip', () => {
+      const primary = glaze(280, 80);
+      primary.colors({
+        surface: { lightness: 97 },
+        local: { lightness: 50, inherit: false },
+      });
+
+      const exported = primary.export();
+      const restored = glaze.from(exported);
+
+      expect(restored.has('local')).toBe(true);
+
+      const child = restored.extend({ hue: 100 });
+      expect(child.has('surface')).toBe(true);
+      expect(child.has('local')).toBe(false);
+    });
+
+    it('throws when a dependent of a non-inherited color is resolved', () => {
+      const primary = glaze(280, 80);
+      primary.colors({
+        surface: { lightness: 97, inherit: false },
+        text: { base: 'surface', contrast: 'AAA' },
+      });
+
+      const child = primary.extend({ hue: 23 });
+      expect(child.has('surface')).toBe(false);
+      expect(child.has('text')).toBe(true);
+      expect(() => child.resolve()).toThrow(/non-existent base/);
+    });
   });
 
   describe('token export', () => {
diff --git a/src/glaze.ts b/src/glaze.ts
index 32f5663..217cd22 100644
--- a/src/glaze.ts
+++ b/src/glaze.ts
@@ -1157,9 +1157,17 @@ function createTheme(
     extend(options: GlazeExtendOptions): GlazeTheme {
       const newHue = options.hue ?? hue;
       const newSat = options.saturation ?? saturation;
+
+      const inheritedColors: ColorMap = {};
+      for (const [name, def] of Object.entries(colorDefs)) {
+        if (def.inherit !== false) {
+          inheritedColors[name] = def;
+        }
+      }
+
       const mergedColors = options.colors
-        ? { ...colorDefs, ...options.colors }
-        : { ...colorDefs };
+        ? { ...inheritedColors, ...options.colors }
+        : { ...inheritedColors };
 
       return createTheme(newHue, newSat, mergedColors);
     },
diff --git a/src/types.ts b/src/types.ts
index cf35519..98b185b 100644
--- a/src/types.ts
+++ b/src/types.ts
@@ -78,6 +78,12 @@ export interface RegularColorDef {
    * should not be combined (a console.warn is emitted).
    */
   opacity?: number;
+
+  /**
+   * Whether this color is inherited by child themes created via `extend()`.
+   * Default: true. Set to false to make this color local to the current theme.
+   */
+  inherit?: boolean;
 }
 
 /** Shadow tuning knobs. All values use the 0–1 scale (OKHSL). */
@@ -124,6 +130,12 @@ export interface ShadowColorDef {
   intensity: HCPair<number>;
   /** Override default tuning. Merged field-by-field with global `shadowTuning`. */
   tuning?: ShadowTuning;
+
+  /**
+   * Whether this color is inherited by child themes created via `extend()`.
+   * Default: true. Set to false to make this color local to the current theme.
+   */
+  inherit?: boolean;
 }
 
 export interface MixColorDef {
@@ -159,6 +171,12 @@ export interface MixColorDef {
    * Supports [normal, highContrast] pair.
    */
   contrast?: HCPair<MinContrast>;
+
+  /**
+   * Whether this color is inherited by child themes created via `extend()`.
+   * Default: true. Set to false to make this color local to the current theme.
+   */
+  inherit?: boolean;
 }
 
 export type ColorDef = RegularColorDef | ShadowColorDef | MixColorDef;