rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryscarletBright red
adjective / noun

scarlet

SKAR-luht/skˈɑrlʌt/

A bright red color.

The folded scarlet cloth shows a broad surface of brilliant red.

A loosely folded piece of vivid scarlet cloth, with a broad bright-red surface and a few clearly drawn folds, isolated on white.
Etymology
scarletOld Frenchfine cloth; scarlet color

The ancestor named a high-quality cloth, often but not necessarily bright red. The cloth’s name became a name for its characteristic brilliant red, giving the adjective its color meaning.

In context

TED-Ed1:17
what gives blood its scarlet hue
Oxygen’s surprisingly complex journey through your body - Enda Butler

More examples

  • She wore a scarlet scarf.
  • Scarlet stood out against the gray background.
  • The leaves turned scarlet in autumn.

Forms

scarlet

Similar words

red
The broader color category without the bright specific shade.
crimson
Crimson is typically a deeper red with more blue.