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

Joseph Hoang of Biloxi, Mississippi, caught a vermilion snapper using an electric reel. —Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 2 June 2025

This vibrant vermilion maxi skirt is just what my vacation wardrobe has been missing, thanks to its playful shape and bold shade. —Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 21 May 2025

Sindoor is the Hindi for the traditional red vermilion worn by married Hindu women on their forehead symbolising protection and marital commitment. —Staff, USA Today, 7 May 2025

The strikes were known as Operation Sindoor in a reference to the red vermilion that newly married Hindu women wear in their hair to symbolize love and devotion. —Mushtaq Yusufzai, NBC news, 6 May 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