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.
The real show starts when the enormous outer layer called a spathe opens up, revealing a deep reddish interior.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026
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
The researchers also proposed an explanation for the pale "white worm" appearance reported in some bottles: larvae that spend long periods in alcohol may lose some of their reddish color over time.
From Science Daily ● Apr. 26, 2026
Blood stained the white limestone rocks, blending in with the West Bank's distinctive reddish soil.
From Barron's ● Mar. 15, 2026
Hamlet had a companion, a fellow with reddish locks and lanky limbs, who accompanied him everywhere.
From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein
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.
