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

Derived Forms

• red-carpet
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of red carpet

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

But the ceremony made headlines when Labour's soon-to-be Prime Minister Tony Blair attended with his wife Cherie, walking the red carpet alongside King.

From BBC • Jun. 5, 2026

"I wanted the audience to be able to sympathize with him at times, and be terrified of him at times," Antosca told AFP on the Los Angeles red carpet.

From Barron's • Jun. 3, 2026

But if his command of the red carpet lately is any indicator, the kid has staying power.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026

Stokes and Ballerini began dating in 2023, going red carpet official later that year.

From MarketWatch • May 21, 2026

One day, as I led a group of tourists through the church, I noticed a healthy crop of mushrooms growing out of the once-beautiful red carpet near the pulpit.

From "While the World Watched: A Birmingham Bombing Survivor Comes of Age during the Civil Rights Movement" by Carolyn Maull McKinstry

Related Words

• welcome mat