carnelian

noun

car·​ne·​lian kär-ˈnēl-yən 

: a hard red chalcedony used in jewelry

Examples of carnelian in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Queen Camilla added Van Cleef & Arpels bracelets in agate and carnelian and pinned Queen Victoria’s sapphire-and-diamond wedding brooch near her left shoulder. — Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 20 June 2026

Moonstone has a soft, glowy appearance, while pearl is classic and understated, and carnelian brings in a warm tone that's fitting for any summer manicure. — Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 20 June 2026

Mesopotamians extracted diorite from Oman, lapis lazuli from Afghanistan, and carnelian and agate from the Indus Valley and other parts of South Asia. — Serdar Yalçin, The Conversation, 3 Nov. 2025

Silver bracelets of Queen Hetepheres inlaid with turquoise, lapis lazuli and carnelian in a chest covered with gold leaf. — Charlene Gubash, NBC news, 30 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

alteration of cornelian, from Middle English corneline, from Anglo-French, perhaps from Old French cornele cornel cherry

First Known Use

1695, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

carnelian

noun

car·​ne·​lian kär-ˈnēl-yən 

: a hard tough reddish quartz used as a gem