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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 The specific pigment know as vermilion was originally made from mercury sulfide, a chemical compound that produces a deep red color.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

When they went into battle they painted their bodies, half with chalk, and half with vermilion.

From Textbooks ● Apr. 19, 2023

Even so, the actor — a bright and poised presence in a sunny vermilion dress — acknowledged that “Prey” joins an action-friendly résumé.

From New York Times ● Aug. 5, 2022

The hair at her temples blew about in the breeze, the column of vermilion fresh in her part.

From "Interpreter of Maladies" by Jhumpa Lahiri

Among the top gainers in the session are Vermilion Energy, Athabasca Oil, Cenovus and Suncor.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 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 only launched his education consultant company, Vermilion, in March of this year.

From Salon ● Oct. 10, 2023

Many of these were condors that had roosted in Arizona’s Vermilion Cliffs, the same place where captive-bred birds were first released in 1996.

From Scientific American ● Aug. 29, 2023

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

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

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