vermilion

noun

ver·​mil·​ion vər-ˈmil-yən 

variants or less commonly vermillion

1

: a vivid reddish orange

2

: a bright red pigment consisting of mercuric sulfide

broadly : any of various red pigments

Examples of vermilion in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

These are edged with a glossy vermilion border and filed into a tapered almond shape for an extra edge. —Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 9 Jan. 2026

Just remember how the Nashville native sang, danced, and ran around the stage for over three hours during her The Eras Tour concerts with a perfect vermilion lip. —María Munsuri, Glamour, 24 Dec. 2025

The bird’s name, vermilion flycatcher, might give you some clue as to its beauty. —Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Dec. 2025

The sun, vermilion like molten glass, rose through a mist over Rwanda's capital, Kigali. —Chris Wallace, Travel + Leisure, 14 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English vermilioun, borrowed from Anglo-French vermeilloun, from vermeil "bright red, red color" (going back to Late Latin vermiculus "bright red color (obtained from kermes)," going back to Latin, "insect larva, grub," from vermis "worm" + -culus, diminutive suffix) + -on, diminutive or particularizing suffix, going back to Latin -ō, -ōn-, suffix of persons with a prominent feature — more at worm entry 1

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for vermilion

• castilian
• civilian
• cotillion
• pavilion
• postilion
• quadrillion
• reptilian
• vermillion
• billion
• million
• pillion
• trillion

Kids Definition

vermilion

noun

ver·​mil·​ion

variants also vermillion

vər-ˈmil-yən 

: a bright reddish orange