carmine

noun

car·​mine ˈkär-mən How to pronounce carmine (audio)
-ˌmīn
1
: a rich red to crimson pigment made from cochineal
2
: a vivid red

Examples of carmine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
That’s why Hourglass created their patent-pending Red 0, the first vegan industry replacement for carmine. Celia Shatzman, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2025 As the legend goes, Prussian blue was created by accident when a batch of carmine was contaminated with blood. John Cumbers, Forbes, 6 May 2023 For the Gucci show in Milan, the hair stylist Ben Gregory turned the model Julia Belyakova’s naturally blonde pixie cut a decidedly unnatural carmine. Arden Fanning Andrews, New York Times, 4 May 2023 Silver Screen, a classic carmine. Maggie Lange, Allure, 20 Dec. 2021 See All Example Sentences for carmine

Word History

Etymology

French carmin, from Medieval Latin carminium, perhaps ultimately from Arabic qirmiz kermes + Latin minium cinnabar

First Known Use

1712, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of carmine was in 1712

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Cite this Entry

“Carmine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carmine. Accessed 1 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

carmine

noun
car·​mine ˈkär-mən How to pronounce carmine (audio)
-ˌmīn
: a vivid red

Medical Definition

carmine

noun
car·​mine ˈkär-mən, -ˌmīn How to pronounce carmine (audio)
: a vivid red lake consisting essentially of an aluminum salt of carminic acid made from cochineal and used as a biological stain and as coloring in foods, drugs, and cosmetics
also : any of various coloring matters (as indigo carmine) other than carmine

More from Merriam-Webster on carmine

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