Scarlet

UK: /ˈskɑː^rlɪt/ US: /ˈskɑrlɪt/ ,(skär′lit)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

scar•let /ˈskɑrlɪt/   n. [uncountable]

1. a bright red color.

adj. 

2. of the color scarlet.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

scar•let  (skär′lit), n. 

1. a bright-red color inclining toward orange.
2. cloth or clothing of this color.

adj. 

3. of the color scarlet.
4. flagrantly offensive:
   Their sins were scarlet.

• Latin sigillātus decorated with patterns in relief; see sigillate
• Medieval Greek sigillátos
• Arabic saqirlāṭ, siqillāṭ
• Medieval Latin scarlata, scarletum, perh.
• Old French escarlate
• Middle English 1200–50

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

scarlet / ˈskɑːlɪt/ noun

1. a vivid red colour, sometimes with an orange tinge
2. cloth or clothing of this colour

adjective

1. of the colour scarlet
2. sinful or immoral, esp unchaste

Etymology: 13th Century: from Old French escarlate fine cloth, of unknown origin