carmine

American  

[kahr-min, -mahyn] / ˈkɑr mɪn, -maɪn /

noun

1. a crimson or purplish-red color.

2. a crimson pigment obtained from cochineal.

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carmine British  

/ ˈkɑːmaɪn /

noun

1. 1. a vivid red colour, sometimes with a purplish tinge

   2. ( as adjective )

      carmine paint

2. a pigment of this colour obtained from cochineal

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Etymology

Origin of carmine

1705–15; < French carmin (color), carmine (pigment), Old French; compare Medieval Latin carminium, perhaps blend of carmesīnum ( see crimson) and minium minium

Explanation

Carmine is the color red, but it isn’t just any red — it’s a vivid, rich shade of deep ruby or blood red, like a ripe, juicy tomato, a tasty cherry, or a rich red lipstick. Carmine is a deep red pigment historically made by crushing the dried-out bodies of beetles. This method is still in use, but there are now alternative ways to produce this vibrant red dye, which is commonly used in beauty, fashion, and food products. The term carmine can refer to both the powdered pigment and the color itself. So the next time you encounter a strikingly vivid red — whether in a fabric or a food (like candy or ketchup) — it might just be colored by beetles!

Example Sentences

“Parmigiano Reggiano is not just a symbol of excellence rooted in tradition, but increasingly a truly iconic global brand,” Carmine Forbuso, Parmigiano Reggiano Consortium’s head of marketing, said to the Hollywood Reporter.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 20, 2025

Carmine Di Sibio, EY’s global chair at the time and the architect of the planned split, was succeeded by Janet Truncale last year.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 13, 2025

Early results suggest that mothers in the singing group saw a "nice steady decline in those levels throughout the intervention period," according to Carmine Pariante, professor of biological psychiatry at Kings College London.

From BBC • Oct. 14, 2025

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office responded to a Bank of America branch in Fort Myers shortly before noon, Sheriff Carmine Marceno said during a news conference Tuesday afternoon.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 6, 2024

Carmine struggles to free himself, and as soon as I set him down he races toward Dutchy and grabs his legs.

From "Orphan Train" by Christina Baker Kline