maroon

¹ American  

[muh-roon] / məˈrun /

adjective

1. dark brownish-red.

2. Chiefly British.

   1. a loudly exploding firework consisting of a cardboard container filled with gunpowder.

   2. a similar firework used as a danger or warning signal, as by railway brakemen.

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maroon ² American  

[muh-roon] / məˈrun /

verb (used with object)

maroons, present (3rd person singular) marooned, past participle, past marooning present participle

1. to put ashore and abandon on a desolate island or coast by way of punishment or the like, as was done by buccaneers.

2. to place in an isolated and often dangerous position.

   The rising floodwaters marooned us on top of the house.

3. to abandon and leave without aid or resources.

   Having lost all his money, he was marooned in the strange city.

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noun

1. (often initial capital letter) any of a group of Black people, descended from fugitive slaves of the 17th and 18th centuries, living in the West Indies and Guiana, especially in mountainous areas.

2. a person who is marooned.

   Robinson Crusoe lived for years as a maroon.

maroon ¹ British  

/ məˈruːn /

verb

1. to leave ashore and abandon, esp on an island

2. to isolate without resources

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noun

1. a descendant of a group of runaway slaves living in the remoter areas of the Caribbean or Guyana

2. informal a person who has been marooned, esp on an island

maroon ² British  

/ məˈruːn /

noun

1. 1. a dark red to purplish-red colour

   2. ( as adjective )

      a maroon carpet

2. an exploding firework, esp one used as a warning signal

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Other Word Forms

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has marooned
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have marooned
  perfect
• are marooning
  progressive
• is marooning
  progressive 3rd person singular
• am marooning
  progressive 1st person singular
• marooning
  participle
• have been marooning
  perfect progressive
• has been marooning
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• maroons
  singular 3rd person

Past

• had marooned
  perfect
• was marooning
  progressive singular
• had been marooning
  perfect progressive
• were marooning
  progressive plural
• marooned
  participle
• marooned
  simple

Future

• will maroon
  simple
• will have marooned
  perfect
• will have been marooning
  perfect progressive
• will be marooning
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of maroon¹

First recorded in 1585–95; from French marron literally, “chestnut (nut and color), firecracker,” Middle French, from Italian marrone “chestnut, brown”; further origin unknown

Origin of maroon²

First recorded in 1660–70; from French mar(r)on, apparently from Colonial Spanish cimarrón “wild”; first used in reference to domestic animals that escaped into the woods, later to people who escaped slavery; see cimarron

Explanation

To maroon is to strand someone in an isolated place, often a deserted island. Think of "Gilligan's Island," "Survivor," or "Lost" — TV shows that feature folks marooned on islands — and you've got the idea. Maroon can be a noun or verb, depending on how you use it. If you maroon your best friend on a deserted island, in addition to being a terrible friend, you're using the word as a verb. If this friend was wearing a brownish-red shirt at the time he was marooned, you would use the adjective maroon to describe the shirt's color.

Example Sentences

The 23 senators present donned maroon velvet robes Monday and swore to "do impartial justice according to the constitution and the laws of the Philippines" at the trial.

From Barron's • May 18, 2026

One by one, the maroon waves started washing towards the away end at Easter Road.

From BBC • Apr. 26, 2026

In his maroon robes, simple sandals and wide-rimmed spectacles, the Dalai Lama is an unlikely global celebrity.

From Barron's • Feb. 2, 2026

Ketchup has to be maroon before I will refuse to eat it.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 21, 2026

My eyes fall to the ground, studying the maroon shag carpet underneath the table.

From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer

Related Words

• isolate
• strand