claret
Americannoun
-
the red table wine produced in the Bordeaux region of France: originally it was light red or yellowish.
-
a similar wine made elsewhere.
-
Also called claret red. a deep purplish red.
-
Slang. blood.
adjective
noun
-
a red wine, esp one from the Bordeaux district of France
-
-
a purplish-red colour
-
( as adjective )
a claret carpet
-
Etymology
Origin of claret
1350–1400; Middle English < Anglo-French, Middle French claret, cleret, alteration, by suffix substitution, of Old French claré wine mixed with honey and herbs or spices < Medieval Latin clarātum, equivalent to Latin clār ( us ) clear + -ātus -ate 1
Explanation
Claret is a deep, purple-red color, as well as the name of a wine of the same hue. The color claret is named for the rich, jewel-toned red of claret wine, which is another name for wine from the French Bordeaux region. The term claret is mainly used in the U.K. — in France or the U.S. you'd just call it "Bordeaux." It originally referred to a pink wine once produced in that area, from the Latin root clarus, "light," but came to be associated with the darker red of a dry Bordeaux.
Vocabulary lists containing claret
Red
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"The Highwayman"
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Vocabulary from Readings, Unit 4
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
You can be blue or tangerine, red or black, claret and amber - everybody has some sort of skin in the game, some reason to be gripped.
From BBC ● May 10, 2026
So the lifelong Manchester United fan, who felt so entwined with his team, will now wear the claret and blue of Villa, at least until the end of the season.
From BBC ● Feb. 2, 2025
Schauffele went from the heaviest major trophy at the PGA Championship to the smallest and oldest, the famed claret jug that he will keep for a year.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2024
Initially called clairet, it became known as claret and scored its first international success, becoming the most consumed wine in Britain until the 19th century.
From Salon ● Jul. 15, 2024
He was as ebullient and ruddy as mulled claret, and Nately liked him a great deal, although he did not like mulled claret.
From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
