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

There’s never a shortage of people in red on Opening Day in Cincinnati, but next year will get an extra pop of scarlet with the Boston Red Sox making their first Opening Day appearance at Great American Ball Park on March 26. —C. Trent Rosecrans, New York Times, 27 Aug. 2025

Be prepared: On game days, the area surrounding the stadium turns into a sea of scarlet and gray. —Siena Kessler, People.com, 30 July 2025

Adjective

Hind wings are scarlet with black spots at the front and white and black bars at the rear. —Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 27 Aug. 2025

The Turkish eggs hide custardy pockets of Japanese sweet potato, while tangles of fried tortillas sharpen the texture of Napa cabbage and feta salad, and the baked beans in the English-ish breakfast are huge scarlet runners with an unexpected touch of molasses. —Bon Appétit Staff & Contributors, Bon Appetit Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025

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