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.
Nearby, Mars will stand out with its characteristic reddish appearance.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 6, 2026
Elsewhere it’s mottled and reddish, as if made of clay.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 27, 2026
These wavelengths are then reflected back towards Earth, giving the eclipsed Moon its reddish colour.
From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026
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
He could see, even through his closed lids, the reddish glow that meant light streamed upon him from the entrance hall.
From "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J.K. Rowling
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.