red carpet

American  

noun

1. a red strip of carpet placed on the ground for high-ranking dignitaries to walk on when entering or leaving a building, vehicle, or the like.

2. 1. an area abutting the entrance to a building, usually carpeted in red, where celebrities gather and walk before participating in or taking their seats at a big event.

      The winning actress had of course been interviewed on the red carpet before the Academy Awards.

   2. the activity that goes on in this area.

      Six reporters will be covering the red carpet at the charity's annual gala.

3. a display of courtesy or deference, as that shown to persons of high station.

   The visiting prince was treated to the red carpet in Rome.

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red carpet British  

noun

1. a strip of red carpeting laid for important dignitaries to walk on when arriving or departing

2. 1. deferential treatment accorded to a person of importance

   2. ( as modifier )

      the returning hero had a red-carpet reception

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red carpet Idioms  

1. Honorary treatment, lavish hospitality, as in We'll have to get out the red carpet for the President's visit. This term comes from the literal practice of rolling out a carpet to welcome a royal or other esteemed guest, and indeed is often put as roll out the red carpet. [Early 1900s]

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Other Word Forms

• red-carpet
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of red carpet

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

red carpet

Stars walked a blue version of the traditional red carpet ahead of the Emmy Awards ceremony, which will be broadcast live from the Peacock Theater.

From BBC ● Sep. 15, 2026

The stars of TV’s biggest shows walked the red carpet at Los Angeles’s Peacock Theater before the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards on Monday evening.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 14, 2026

Berlin had earlier rolled out the red carpet for President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who met Chancellor Friedrich Merz after earlier being received with military honours by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

From Barron's ● Sep. 10, 2026

It was a heady time for a playwright thrust into the red carpet spotlight.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026

According to what my dad told us later, the guy said, “We’ll roll out the red carpet, then.”

From "The Book of Unknown Americans" by Cristina Henríquez

Related Words

• welcome mat