blood-red: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Descriptive, slightly literary. More common in writing (fiction, descriptive prose) than in casual speech.
Quick answer
What does “blood-red” mean?
A dark red colour resembling that of fresh blood.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A dark red colour resembling that of fresh blood.
A deep, vivid red colour; can be used metaphorically to describe something intensely coloured, or occasionally to describe a situation or emotion of deep, visceral intensity.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or grammatical differences. Spelling follows regional norms for hyphenated compound adjectives.
Connotations
Equally vivid in both varieties. Slightly more common in UK descriptions of nature/heraldry. No major connotative shift.
Frequency
Low frequency in both, but slightly higher in UK English due to traditional descriptions (e.g., in heraldry: 'gules', but 'blood-red' in common descriptions).
Grammar
How to Use “blood-red” in a Sentence
[to be] + blood-red[Noun] + of + a + blood-red + colour[Verb] + blood-redVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “blood-red” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The sunset began to blood-red the clouds.
- (Very rare/poetic use)
American English
- The dye blood-reddened the fabric. (Derived form)
adverb
British English
- The horizon glowed blood-red. (Functioning as a subject complement/adverbial)
American English
- The leaves turned blood-red in the autumn. (Functioning as a subject complement/adverbial)
adjective
British English
- The flag was a striking blood-red colour.
- She bought a jumper in a rich blood-red.
American English
- The blood-red sky warned of the coming storm.
- He drove a blood-red convertible.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in marketing copy for luxury items (e.g., 'blood-red leather').
Academic
Rare in formal science. May appear in art history, literature, or descriptive geography.
Everyday
Used for vivid description, e.g., of sunsets, flowers, or objects.
Technical
Used in fields like gemology (describing rubies), winemaking (describing wine colour), or textile/design industries.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “blood-red”
- Using it as a noun (e.g., 'She wore a blood-red' instead of 'She wore blood-red').
- Overusing in non-visual contexts.
- Misspelling as 'blood red' (open compound) when used attributively before a noun.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a hyphenated compound adjective when used before a noun (e.g., a blood-red dress). It can be open after a verb (e.g., The dress was blood red).
No, it specifically refers to a dark, vivid, and slightly warm red, similar to the colour of fresh oxygenated blood. It is not used for light, pinkish, or orangey reds.
It is not very common in casual conversation. It is more descriptive and literary. People are more likely to say 'dark red' or 'bright red' in everyday talk.
They are very close synonyms. 'Crimson' is a more standard colour name and can be slightly more purple/blue-toned. 'Blood-red' is more visceral and descriptive, explicitly linking the colour to blood.
A dark red colour resembling that of fresh blood.
Blood-red is usually descriptive, slightly literary. more common in writing (fiction, descriptive prose) than in casual speech. in register.
Blood-red: in British English it is pronounced /ˈblʌd red/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈblʌd ˌrɛd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Not a standard idiom. It is itself a colour descriptor.]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a single drop of BLOOD on a white sheet – that intense, dark RED colour is 'blood-red'.
Conceptual Metaphor
COLOUR IS A SUBSTANCE (BLOOD); INTENSITY IS DEPTH/VISCERAL QUALITY.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'blood-red' LEAST likely to be used?