carmine

noun

car·​mine ˈkär-mən How to pronounce carmine (audio)
-ˌmīn
1
: a rich red to crimson pigment made from cochineal
2
: a vivid red

Examples of carmine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Cochineal extract, called carmine, is not kosher, meaning that kosher supervisors may need to retract certification of some items if their producers opt to replace synthetic reds with it. Philissa Cramer, Sun Sentinel, 29 Apr. 2025 That’s why Hourglass created their patent-pending Red 0, the first vegan industry replacement for carmine. Celia Shatzman, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2025 As the legend goes, Prussian blue was created by accident when a batch of carmine was contaminated with blood. John Cumbers, Forbes, 6 May 2023 For the Gucci show in Milan, the hair stylist Ben Gregory turned the model Julia Belyakova’s naturally blonde pixie cut a decidedly unnatural carmine. Arden Fanning Andrews, New York Times, 4 May 2023 See All Example Sentences for carmine

Word History

Etymology

French carmin, from Medieval Latin carminium, perhaps ultimately from Arabic qirmiz kermes + Latin minium cinnabar

First Known Use

1712, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of carmine was in 1712

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Carmine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carmine. Accessed 7 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

carmine

noun
car·​mine ˈkär-mən How to pronounce carmine (audio)
-ˌmīn
: a vivid red

Medical Definition

carmine

noun
car·​mine ˈkär-mən, -ˌmīn How to pronounce carmine (audio)
: a vivid red lake consisting essentially of an aluminum salt of carminic acid made from cochineal and used as a biological stain and as coloring in foods, drugs, and cosmetics
also : any of various coloring matters (as indigo carmine) other than carmine

More from Merriam-Webster on carmine

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!