scarlet

1 of 2

noun

scar·​let ˈskär-lət 

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 fashion …

—G. 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

Last fall, Hargitay also sported a thigh-high slit style, wearing a scarlet off-the-shoulder gown by Taller Marmo at the Kering Foundation's fourth annual Caring for Women Dinner in New York City. —Hannah Malach, InStyle, 11 Mar. 2026

These slow-growing trees are reliable, come in an astounding variety of shapes, sizes, and colors, and offer vivid bright scarlet, crimson, orange, and yellow fall foliage. —Steve Bender, Southern Living, 8 Mar. 2026

Adjective

Scientists have produced a stunningly complete picture about how populations of one particular flower – the scarlet monkeyflower – made it through. —Nathan Rott, NPR, 20 Mar. 2026

The smoke kept rising and the clouds continued to throb with sickly yellow-and-black whorls until just after sunset, when the boiling mass of vapor suddenly turned pink and scarlet, like a poisonous flower opening its petals. —New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026

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

Phrases Containing scarlet

• scarlet fever
• scarlet king snake
• scarlet letter
• scarlet pimpernel
• scarlet runner bean
• scarlet sage
• scarlet tanager

Rhymes for scarlet

• carlot
• harlot
• starlet
• starlit
• varlet

Kids Definition

scarlet

noun

scar·​let

ˈskär-lət

1

: scarlet cloth or clothes

2

: a bright red

scarlet adjective