scarlet

1 of 2

noun

scar·​let ˈskär-lət 

1

: scarlet cloth or clothes

2

: any of various bright reds

scarlet

2 of 2

adjective

1

: of the color scarlet

2

a

: grossly and glaringly offensive

… sinning in flagrant and scarlet fashion …

—G. W. Johnson

b

[from the use of the word in Isaiah 1:18 & Revelation 17:1–6 (King James Version)] : of, characterized by, or associated with sexual immorality

a scarlet woman

Examples of scarlet in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Keep scrolling to see every design, from pistachio and rose polka dots to unexpected pops of scarlet. —Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 23 Feb. 2026

Deviating from a black and white palette for the first time since his MA collection, Smith incorporated the scarlets, golds and pinks that often feature in Burra’s and Dix’s work into his own drawings. —Violet Goldstone, Footwear News, 20 Feb. 2026

Adjective

The scarlet tubular flowers of this shrubby vine are magnets for hummingbirds, and songbirds also eat their fruit. —Anne Readel, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Feb. 2026

In between performances, guests traveled with lychee martinis in hand underneath the scarlet red luminaire, past cherry blossom trees, and to a hors d’oeuvres table laden with jiaozi, bánh cam, and mochi. —Savannah Hanoum, Vogue, 20 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English scarlat, scarlet, from Anglo-French escarlet, from Medieval Latin scarlata, from Persian saqalāt, a kind of rich cloth

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing scarlet

• scarlet fever
• scarlet king snake
• scarlet letter
• scarlet pimpernel
• scarlet runner bean
• scarlet sage
• scarlet tanager

Rhymes for scarlet

• carlot
• harlot
• starlet
• starlit
• varlet

Kids Definition

scarlet

noun

scar·​let

ˈskär-lət

1

: scarlet cloth or clothes

2

: a bright red

scarlet adjective