red ink

noun

1
: a business loss : deficit
2
: the condition of showing a business loss

Examples of red ink 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.
How does a state wading in red ink afford all that? Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026 That new system has left many schools drowning in red ink, while rules governing their payments to players are only slowly taking hold. Eddie Pells, Chicago Tribune, 7 Mar. 2026 The new system has left many schools drowning in red ink from paying players, while rules governing those payments are only slowly taking hold. CBS News, 7 Mar. 2026 That new system has left many schools drowning in red ink, while rules governing their payments to players are only slowly taking hold. ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for red ink

Word History

Etymology

from the use of red ink in financial statements to indicate a loss

First Known Use

1926, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of red ink was in 1926

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Red ink.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/red%20ink. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

red ink

noun
1
: a business loss
2
: the condition of showing a business loss
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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