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• vermilion
  vermilion

  noun

  a brilliant scarlet red.
• Vermilion
  Vermilion

  noun

  a town in N Ohio.

vermilion

¹ American  

[ver-mil-yuhn] / vərˈmɪl jən /

Or vermillion

noun

1. a brilliant scarlet red.

2. a bright-red, water-insoluble pigment consisting of mercuric sulfide, once obtained from cinnabar, now usually produced by the reaction of mercury and sulfur.

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adjective

1. of the color vermilion.

verb (used with object)

1. to color with or as if with vermilion.

Vermilion ² American  

[ver-mil-yuhn] / vərˈmɪl jən /

noun

1. a town in N Ohio.

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vermilion British  

/ vəˈmɪljən /

noun

1. 1. a bright red to reddish-orange colour

   2. ( as adjective )

      a vermilion car

2. mercuric sulphide, esp when used as a bright red pigment; cinnabar

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Etymology

Origin of vermilion

1250–1300; Middle English vermilioun, vermillon < Anglo-French, Old French verm ( e ) illon, equivalent to vermeil vermeil + -on noun suffix

Explanation

Vermilion is a deep, brilliant shade of red. You could describe your grandfather's reddish-orange scarf as vermilion. The specific pigment know as vermilion was originally made from mercury sulfide, a chemical compound that produces a deep red color. This kind of vermilion was most famously used in enameled Chinese lacquerware. However, you can use the word vermilion to describe anything that's a particularly deep, rich shade of red. The root word is the French vermeil, "bright red," from the Latin vermiculus, "a little worm," or the insect that was historically used to make red dyes.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

vermilion Vermilion

Clark off North Carolina, with vermilion snapper schooling nearby.

From Salon ● Dec. 30, 2023

One standout piece was a top creatively constructed from a myriad of vermilion flowers, a nod to the dynamic African wrap, contrasted with striking blue pants.

From Seattle Times ● Jul. 6, 2023

Far more engaging is his “Virgin Reading,” from 1505 and also newly cleaned, for which Mary throws off her usual blue dress for a gown of lustrous vermilion.

From New York Times ● Dec. 9, 2022

Those trees have grown rapidly and now drape the wetland in shade, attracting a variety of birds, such as yellow warblers, blue-gray gnatcatchers and vermilion flycatchers.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 23, 2022

Dad fed them molasses to fatten them, and gave the chickens corn and sorghum until they laid vermilion eggs, rich with vitamins.

From "Dreaming in Cuban" by Cristina García

Pecan Island is an unincorporated, coastal area of Vermilion Parish with between 100 and 200 permanent residents, according to Michael S. Martin, professor of history at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026

SpaceX will also pay at least $25 million a year for the next 25 years to Vermilion Parish instead of paying taxes, according to the agency.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 25, 2026

Snowplows cleared Kaiser Pass on Wednesday, which made it possible for Gutierrez to access Vermilion Valley Resort on Lake Edison for the first time this year, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 15, 2025

He spent his early childhood years in the small Lake Erie town of Vermilion, Ohio, where his father was a police officer.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 21, 2024

“Etienne? But—?” Vermilion spots open and close in his vision.

From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr

Related Words

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