# auburn

/ˈɑbɝn/ (US) · /ˈɔːbɜːn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/auburn
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. reddish-brown hair

adjective · CEFR B2

having a dark reddish-brown colour, usually used to describe someone's hair.

For teachers: of a reddish-brown or golden-brown hue; almost exclusively used as a descriptor for human hair.

- She has beautiful auburn hair that glows when the sun hits it.
- The portrait captured the subject's striking auburn hair, which contrasted sharply against the pale silk of her Victorian gown.

Usage: Usually placed before the noun 'hair' or used as a predicative adjective after 'is' or 'was'.

Teaching tip: While 'red' is a general term, 'auburn' is more specific and considered more elegant or descriptive in literature and fashion.

### 2. the colour itself

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

a dark reddish-brown colour.

For teachers: a dark reddish-brown colour or pigment. Uncountable when referring to the abstract colour; countable when referring to specific shades.

- The leaves on the trees turned to a deep auburn in late October.
- The artist mixed burnt sienna and a touch of crimson to achieve the perfect auburn for the autumn landscape.

Teaching tip: In modern English, the noun form is less common than the adjective; it is mostly found in descriptive writing about nature or art.

## Examples

- She has beautiful auburn hair that glows in the sun.
- The actress decided to dye her hair auburn for the new movie role to look more natural.
- The portrait captures the subject in soft lighting, highlighting the rich auburn tones of her hair against the dark velvet background.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.