reddish

American  

[red-ish] / ˈrɛd ɪʃ /

adjective

1. somewhat red; tending to red; tinged with red.

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reddish British  

/ ˈrɛdɪʃ /

adjective

1. somewhat red

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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

• reddishly adverb
• reddishness noun

Etymology

Origin of reddish

First recorded in 1350–1400, reddish is from the Middle English word redische. See red ¹, -ish ¹

Example Sentences

The tree, rendered in a rich reddish brown, appears almost upside down—the trunk descending from the upper left corner.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

Blood stained the white limestone rocks, blending in with the West Bank's distinctive reddish soil.

From Barron's • Mar. 15, 2026

Known for their reddish coat and white-tipped bushy tail, they are found across Europe, Asia, North America, and parts of Africa.

From BBC • Mar. 12, 2026

The basket reeds often develop a reddish tint at the bottom part of the plant when they’re drying.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 8, 2026

The next afternoon, when Brie drops me off at home after babysitting, I glance over at Dr. P’s yard and see two heads of reddish hair glinting in the sunlight.

From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison