scarlet

1 of 2

noun

scar·​let ˈskär-lət How to pronounce scarlet (audio)
1
: scarlet cloth or clothes
2
: any of various bright reds

scarlet

2 of 2

adjective

1
: of the color scarlet
2
a
: grossly and glaringly offensive
sinning in flagrant and scarlet fashionG. W. Johnson
b
[from the use of the word in Isaiah 1:18 & Revelation 17:1–6 (King James Version)] : of, characterized by, or associated with sexual immorality
a scarlet woman

Examples of scarlet in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Stormi complemented her mother in shades of scarlet–notably a riff on look 21 from the collection, given a miniature twist. Alex Kessler, Vogue, 29 Jan. 2024 This leather set comes in 10 colors, including classic black, brown, and navy shades as well as vibrant, easy-to-spot hues like scarlet and lilac. Jessica Comstock, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Jan. 2024 The day saw her in a cherry red Vivienne Westwood gown, a strapless scarlet Ermanno Scervino mini, and a draping white Marc Jacobs dress. Chelsey Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR, 29 Aug. 2023 During a date night at Luis Miguel’s concert in New York with her boyfriend Bad Bunny, Kendall chose a simple off-duty outfit that was enhanced by a flash of scarlet. Alex Kessler, Vogue, 9 Oct. 2023 Pedro Pascal in his scarlet, leg-baring Met Gala look Photo: Getty Images Speaking of hot! Emma Specter, Vogue, 10 Oct. 2023 Sunny moments served also as a setting for reds and scarlets, still limited perhaps in number, but enough to blaze at moments of opportunity, proclaiming the existence of an autumn day. Martin Weil, Washington Post, 21 Oct. 2023 From scarlet on-the-go dresses to head-to-toe red ensembles, this shade is worth the investment ahead of the colder months. Frances Solá-Santiago, refinery29.com, 7 Sep. 2023 The tree can handle partial shade, but will turn a more brilliant scarlet in full sun. Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 19 Sep. 2023
Adjective
The whiteleaf leather flower (C. glaucophylla) and scarlet leather flower (C. texensis), for example, can really take the heat and just keep blooming and blooming, adapting to challenging environmental circumstances. Margaret Roach, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Feb. 2024 As do orange shop signs, scarlet curtains and the custard dashes of cabs. Christian House, CNN, 22 Feb. 2024 Scroll through for the loveliest looks from Day 6, including this scarlet frock from the Frederick Anderson show. USA TODAY, 15 Feb. 2024 Johnson also added a pop of color by carrying a scarlet Gucci bag. Becca Longmire, Peoplemag, 8 Feb. 2024 The whiteleaf leather flower (C. glaucophylla) and scarlet leather flower (C. texensis), for example, can really take the heat, and just keep blooming and blooming, adapting to challenging environmental circumstances. Margaret Roach, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2024 His purple-y fuchsias, deep magentas, and scarlet reds burst out of the little rectangles that contain the runway images. Laia Garcia-Furtado, Vogue, 26 Jan. 2024 Goldstein expects a want of bold primary colors like cobalt blue, mustard yellow, and scarlet red, while Choi predicts vibrant wildflower hues like fuchsias and oranges. Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 4 Jan. 2024 Once the eggs hatched, workers fed the chicks using sock puppets bearing the birds’ characteristic scarlet beaks. Cameron Pugh, The Christian Science Monitor, 4 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'scarlet.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English scarlat, scarlet, from Anglo-French escarlet, from Medieval Latin scarlata, from Persian saqalāt, a kind of rich cloth

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of scarlet was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near scarlet

Cite this Entry

“Scarlet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scarlet. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

scarlet

noun
scar·​let
ˈskär-lət
1
: scarlet cloth or clothes
2
: a bright red
scarlet adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on scarlet

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!