merlot

noun

mer·​lot mer-ˈlō 

mər-

variants often Merlot

: a full-bodied red wine that is known for its velvety texture, that is produced most prominently in Bordeaux and California, and that is often blended with cabernet sauvignon

also : the grape itself

Examples of merlot in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

As the sun sets, the room bounces in the light of flickering tapers, dripping wax in shades of merlot and blush down to their vintage saucers. —Lyndsay C. Green, Freep.com, 31 Oct. 2025

The Virtuosa expandable carry-on looks classy with its leather-like trim and comes in off-white, navy, merlot and pine green. —Nora Colomer May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2025

Or dive into the label’s French portfolio, a collection of more recognizable varietals including malbec, merlot and syrah. —Nora Heston Tarte, Mercury News, 21 Oct. 2025

The cute sweater is available in navy or merlot, a colorway that works great from fall into winter! —Gabriela Izquierdo, Southern Living, 10 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, from merle "blackbird (Turdus merula)" + -ot, noun suffix, here diminutive (going back to Vulgar Latin *-ottus, variant of Latin -ittus, diminutive suffix); presumably named from the grape's color — more at merle entry 1

First Known Use

1926, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for merlot

• acknow
• aglow
• ago
• airglow
• aloe
• altho
• although
• ammo
• backflow
• backhoe
• banjo
• barbeau