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.
When speaking to Salon, Thayil generously explained what colors he saw in Soundgarden’s “Jesus Christ Pose”: “The word ‘Jesus’ is orangish, with brownish and reddish tones.
From Salon • Jun. 9, 2026
Surrounding the black hole is a dense population of older, reddish stars that create the galaxy's warm central glow.
From Science Daily • Jun. 1, 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
Spotted in July 2024, the reddish mudstone contains organic compounds and other minerals that could have supported bygone microbial Martians.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026
Mr. Ostrowski’s reddish cheeks puffed outward as he smiled.
From "X: A Novel" by Ilyasah Shabazz
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.
