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

A seventh-generation Roman, Francesco Totti dreamed of sporting the same carmine red and gold as the heroes plastered across his childhood bedroom wall.

From BBC • Apr. 6, 2026

For years he’s been reviving the use of natural rather than synthetic textile dyes, notably including carmine.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 29, 2024

A symbol of status, carmine red was already employed by the nobility of Mexico’s Indigenous peoples to dye garments, and widely used in the arts, to write codices, decorate ceramics and paint murals.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 1, 2023

During this Era of Exploration, consumers also got their pink cheeks and lips from other pigments like carmine, derived from cochineal insects harvested in Central and South America under similar conditions.

From National Geographic • Jul. 21, 2023

As I fixed pearls in her hair and brushed carmine on her pale cheeks, the queen was impassive and did not meet my eye.

From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein