1
: any of various cosmetics for coloring the cheeks or lips red
2
: a red powder consisting essentially of ferric oxide used in polishing glass, metal, or gems and as a pigment
rouged; rouging
: to use rouge
Examples of rouge in a Sentence
Noun
She was wearing too much rouge.
Recent Examples on the Web
Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 3 Sep. 2023
When Hermès in their wardrobe isn’t enough, add the luxury fashion house to their beauty routine and gift your recipient a bottle of nail lacquer in this rouge shade that comes in the brand’s iconic box.
—Danielle Directo-Meston, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Jan. 2022
In this exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the production’s design, Ricker highlights every detail the show used to tell Halston’s story—from the bold rouge furnishings to the sweeping walls of mirrors, a suggestion made by Andy Warhol to help anchor the space.
—Abby Dupes, Town & Country, 15 June 2021
While there are a variety of phone chargers out there to keep your tech juiced, the most discreet option is a lipstick power bank, which is about the size of a tube of rouge — and small enough to stash into your purse, pocket or makeup bag.
—Natalie Alcala, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Apr. 2023
Youge to rhyme with rouge?
—Gretchen McCulloch, The Atlantic, 7 Dec. 2022
But this is not your grandmother’s rouge.
—Leslie Camhi, Vogue, 8 Oct. 2021
But, even as cosmetic lines catering to women of color began to emerge, old stereotypes from the 18th and 19th centuries of red lips being solely reserved for prostitutes seemingly extended over for WOC in the 20th century who dared paint their lips rouge.
—Marilyn La Jeunesse, Allure, 14 Dec. 2020
Beyond planting your outdoor retreat in shades of warm and bright rouge, make use of vibrant red flowers throughout the entire year with pretty mason jar flower arrangements and even edible flowers on your plate (red marigolds and begonias are lovely choices for cake decorating with fresh blooms!).
—Laurren Welch, Country Living, 28 July 2022
Dave Quinn, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2023
In ancient Egypt, both men and women were known to rouge their cheeks with a mixture of brownish-red pigment.
—Fiorella Valdesolo, WSJ, 18 Mar. 2022
Because Chandler was hit with rouging the passer on the play, Hamilton had an untimed down to try to win it from the 2.
—Richard Obert, azcentral, 30 Dec. 2019
That morning, Suzanne had spritzed some of her mother’s favorite perfume on her, put red lipstick on her lips and used some to rouge her cheeks.
—Maggie Jones, New York Times, 19 Dec. 2019
Sharing the catwalk with fellow gender-benders Jazelle and Munroe Bergdorf, Desmond wore his slicked gray hair and rouged cheeks with natural swagger.
—Lauren Valenti, Vogue, 12 Feb. 2018
From left: Prada’s Fair-Isle layered combo; an appealingly modest iteration at The Row; full-onmid-90s nostalgia at Versace; an ankle-grazing ensemble at Max Mara; Dior’s rouge 1960s revival.
—Rebecca Malinsky and Rory Satran, WSJ, 9 Mar. 2018
A normally modest Lisa Gherardini appears for her sitting heavily rouged, her hair in a snood, her lavish jewelry and ornamental scarves someone else’s idea.
—Christine Dolen, miamiherald, 17 July 2017
This is even better in a version rouged by chile oil and hiding traces of Sichuan peppercorn, their presence betrayed by a gradual blurring of the lips.
—Ligaya Mishan, New York Times, 2 June 2017
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Noun
The stables were freshly splashed with a rouge the same hue as the leather used on the Selle Faubourg saddle, which was displayed on a platform at the center of the party.
—Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 3 Sep. 2023
When Hermès in their wardrobe isn’t enough, add the luxury fashion house to their beauty routine and gift your recipient a bottle of nail lacquer in this rouge shade that comes in the brand’s iconic box.
—Danielle Directo-Meston, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Jan. 2022
In this exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the production’s design, Ricker highlights every detail the show used to tell Halston’s story—from the bold rouge furnishings to the sweeping walls of mirrors, a suggestion made by Andy Warhol to help anchor the space.
—Abby Dupes, Town & Country, 15 June 2021
While there are a variety of phone chargers out there to keep your tech juiced, the most discreet option is a lipstick power bank, which is about the size of a tube of rouge — and small enough to stash into your purse, pocket or makeup bag.
—Natalie Alcala, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Apr. 2023
Youge to rhyme with rouge?
—Gretchen McCulloch, The Atlantic, 7 Dec. 2022
But this is not your grandmother’s rouge.
—Leslie Camhi, Vogue, 8 Oct. 2021
But, even as cosmetic lines catering to women of color began to emerge, old stereotypes from the 18th and 19th centuries of red lips being solely reserved for prostitutes seemingly extended over for WOC in the 20th century who dared paint their lips rouge.
—Marilyn La Jeunesse, Allure, 14 Dec. 2020
Beyond planting your outdoor retreat in shades of warm and bright rouge, make use of vibrant red flowers throughout the entire year with pretty mason jar flower arrangements and even edible flowers on your plate (red marigolds and begonias are lovely choices for cake decorating with fresh blooms!).
—Laurren Welch, Country Living, 28 July 2022
Verb
Come on, babe, and take a look at all the many celebrities who have rouged their knees and rolled their stockings down with the cast of the Broadway show (all 58 of them!) 01 Olivia Holt The actress and singer, 25, made her Broadway debut in Chicago on April 10, 2023, at the Ambassador Theatre.
—Dave Quinn, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2023
In ancient Egypt, both men and women were known to rouge their cheeks with a mixture of brownish-red pigment.
—Fiorella Valdesolo, WSJ, 18 Mar. 2022
Because Chandler was hit with rouging the passer on the play, Hamilton had an untimed down to try to win it from the 2.
—Richard Obert, azcentral, 30 Dec. 2019
That morning, Suzanne had spritzed some of her mother’s favorite perfume on her, put red lipstick on her lips and used some to rouge her cheeks.
—Maggie Jones, New York Times, 19 Dec. 2019
Sharing the catwalk with fellow gender-benders Jazelle and Munroe Bergdorf, Desmond wore his slicked gray hair and rouged cheeks with natural swagger.
—Lauren Valenti, Vogue, 12 Feb. 2018
From left: Prada’s Fair-Isle layered combo; an appealingly modest iteration at The Row; full-onmid-90s nostalgia at Versace; an ankle-grazing ensemble at Max Mara; Dior’s rouge 1960s revival.
—Rebecca Malinsky and Rory Satran, WSJ, 9 Mar. 2018
A normally modest Lisa Gherardini appears for her sitting heavily rouged, her hair in a snood, her lavish jewelry and ornamental scarves someone else’s idea.
—Christine Dolen, miamiherald, 17 July 2017
This is even better in a version rouged by chile oil and hiding traces of Sichuan peppercorn, their presence betrayed by a gradual blurring of the lips.
—Ligaya Mishan, New York Times, 2 June 2017
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rouge.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
Noun
1746, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1752, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near rouge
Cite this Entry
“Rouge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rouge. Accessed 25 Sep. 2023.
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Kids Definition
rouge
1 of 2 noun
ˈrüzh 
especially Southern ˈrüj
1
: a cosmetic used to give a red color to the cheeks or lips
2
: a red powder consisting essentially of ferric oxide used for polishing (as glass or metal)
rouge
2 of 2 verb
rouged; rouging
: to put rouge on
More from Merriam-Webster on rouge
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for rouge
Nglish: Translation of rouge for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of rouge for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rouge
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