reddish
Americanadjective
adjective
Usage
What does reddish mean? Reddish describes something that is somewhat red or tinted red, as in After washing my shirt hundreds of times, it’s gone from red to merely reddish. The color red is a primary color at one end of the visible spectrum and is the color of human blood. Something that is reddish is not fully red. Example: The sky turned a reddish color as the moon began obscuring the sun.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of reddish
First recorded in 1350–1400, reddish is from the Middle English word redische. See red 1, -ish 1
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.
Antares is a bright reddish star that represents the heart of the constellation Scorpius.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 3, 2026
It will gradually turn a reddish, copper color as sunlight bends and filters through the atmosphere to fall on the otherwise-obscured part of the moon.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026
These wavelengths are then reflected back towards Earth, giving the eclipsed Moon its reddish colour.
From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026
The cub, whose coat is still peppered with reddish fur, is very active and still nursing, he said.
From Barron's ● May 15, 2026
By that she meant reddish, although a person who was accustomed to talking about hair would be more likely to describe it as a rich auburn.
From "The Hidden Gallery" by Maryrose Wood
![]()
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.