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

Paltrow arrived at The Hollywood Reporter’s annual Women in Entertainment Gala on Wednesday in Beverly Hills with a pointed take on the palette, grounding her look in a pair of scarlet stilettos built on a long, tapered point and a thin, high heel. —Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 3 Dec. 2025

The path burrows into a kaleidoscope display formed by willows, boxelders, velvet ash and the fiery scarlet of bigtooth maples. —Roger Naylor, AZCentral.com, 10 Oct. 2025

Adjective

The foliage first turns gold before transitioning to orange, followed by pink, and finally scarlet. —Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 6 Dec. 2025

Home to thousands of plants and more than 400 bird species, like the elusive quetzal and scarlet macaw, the region inspires immersion in its varied topography and wildlife. —Kristin Braswell, Travel + Leisure, 5 Dec. 2025

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