# rouge

/ˈɹuʒ/ (US) · /ɹˈuːʒ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/rouge
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. makeup

noun · CEFR B2

a red or pink powder or cream that you put on your cheeks to add color.

For teachers: a cosmetic used for coloring the cheeks, typically in the form of a powder or cream.

- She applied a little rouge to her cheeks before the party started.
- The actress used a subtle shade of rouge to enhance her features under the harsh stage lights.

### 2. polishing powder

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a fine red powder used by jewelers to polish metal and glass.

For teachers: a fine red powder consisting of ferric oxide, used as an abrasive for polishing jewelry, metal, or lenses.

- The jeweler used a cloth and some rouge to make the silver ring shine.
- Jeweller's rouge is essential for achieving a mirror-like finish on precious metals without causing deep scratches.

### 3. Canadian football score

noun · CEFR C2 · American English · Dialect

a single point scored in Canadian football when the ball is kicked into the end zone.

For teachers: a single point awarded in Canadian football when a kicked ball is not returned from the end zone.

- The game was so close that it was decided by a single rouge in the final minute.
- The kicker earned a rouge after the opposing returner was tackled inside his own end zone.

Usage: Specific to Canadian football rules.

### 4. to apply makeup

verb · CEFR C1 · Literary · Formal

to put red or pink makeup on your cheeks.

For teachers: to apply cosmetic rouge to the face. Often used intransitively.

- In the old movie, the lady would rouge her face before her guests arrived.
- She sat before the vanity to rouge and powder her face with practiced precision.

### 5. reddish color

adjective · CEFR C2 · Literary

having a reddish or pink color.

For teachers: of a reddish-pink or deep red color.

- The sky turned a deep rouge as the sun began to set.
- The walls were draped in rouge velvet, giving the room a heavy, theatrical atmosphere.

## Examples

- She applied a little rouge to her cheeks before the party.
- The makeup artist used a subtle rouge to highlight the actress's cheekbones for the period drama.
- While modern consumers typically purchase products labeled as blush, the term rouge persists in high-fashion circles and historical discussions of Victorian-era cosmetic practices.

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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.