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• red tag
  red tag

  noun

  a tag or other marker colored red and used to categorize something for a special purpose.
• red-tag
  red-tag

  verb (used with object)

  to attach a red tag to, as merchandise for special sale.

red tag

¹ American  

noun

1. a tag or other marker colored red and used to categorize something for a special purpose.

   Items with a red tag are on sale today.

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red-tag ² American  

[red-tag] / ˈrɛdˈtæg /

verb (used with object)

red-tagged, red-tagging

1. to attach a red tag to, as merchandise for special sale.

2. to identify for a specific purpose; earmark.

   The inspector red-tagged the restaurant for health violations.

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adjective

1. pertaining to or composed of something that has been red-tagged.

   the store's annual red-tag sale.

Etymology

Origin of red-tag

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

On Dec. 23, 2024, three days before the fire, the city placed red tag notices around the building, warning about a building or wall that could fall down.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 3, 2025

She described airlines as the "first line of defence" and pointed out that laws require them to isolate, put a red tag on and lock up in a secure vault any potentially "bogus parts".

From BBC • Dec. 6, 2023

Some of the plants are marked with a yellow, green or red tag, or all three.

From Washington Post • Feb. 4, 2019

The company flags these discounts by placing a red tag icon under qualifying merchandise.

From The Wall Street Journal • Aug. 17, 2016

Grayling will take most small trout-flies, but there are many patterns of fly tied specially for them, most of them founded on the red tag or the green insect.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Part 1, Slice 1 by Various