# scarlet

/ˈskɑɹɫət/ (US) · /skˈɑːlət/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. bright red

adjective · CEFR B2

having a very bright, strong red colour.

For teachers: of a brilliant red colour, typically with a slight orange tint.

- The soldiers looked very smart in their traditional scarlet uniforms.
- The autumn leaves turned a vibrant scarlet, creating a stunning contrast against the grey stone of the old manor house.

### 2. the colour

noun · CEFR B2

a bright red colour.

For teachers: a brilliant red colour; also refers to cloth of this specific hue.

- She chose a dress in a deep shade of scarlet for the party.
- The cardinal was dressed in scarlet, a colour traditionally reserved for high-ranking officials in the church.

Usage: Often used as an uncountable noun when referring to the colour itself.

### 3. embarrassed

adjective · CEFR C1 · Informal · Dialect

feeling very embarrassed, making your face turn red.

For teachers: blushing deeply due to intense embarrassment or mortification.

- I was absolutely scarlet when I realised I had called him by the wrong name.
- She went scarlet with shame after her mistake was pointed out in front of the entire department.

Usage: Commonly used in British and Irish English to describe a physical reaction to shame.

Teaching tip: Learners should be aware that this is quite informal and often used in the phrase 'to go scarlet'.

### 4. sinful

adjective · CEFR C2 · Literary · Archaic

used in old stories to describe someone who has done something very wrong or immoral.

For teachers: characterised by sin or immorality; frequently used in literary or biblical contexts.

- In the old novel, the character was punished for her scarlet sins.
- The poem uses scarlet imagery to represent the moral corruption of the city's ruling class.

Usage: Often appears in the fixed phrase 'scarlet woman' or 'scarlet sins'.

Teaching tip: This sense is mostly found in older literature and is rarely used to describe modern behaviour without a sense of irony.

### 5. to dye red

verb · CEFR C2 · Literary

to colour something bright red.

For teachers: to dye, tinge, or colour something with a scarlet hue.

- The setting sun began to scarlet the clouds along the horizon.
- The artisan used traditional methods to scarlet the silk threads before weaving the ceremonial robe.

Usage: Usually transitive, requiring a direct object.

Teaching tip: The verb form is much rarer than the adjective or noun; it is almost exclusively found in poetic or highly descriptive writing.

## Examples

- She wore a beautiful scarlet dress to the party.
- The autumn leaves turned a brilliant scarlet before falling to the forest floor.
- The cardinal's scarlet plumage stood out in stark contrast against the white snow of the midwinter garden.

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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.