claret: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1formal, literary, specialized (oenology), historical (slang)
Quick answer
What does “claret” mean?
A type of dry red wine from the Bordeaux region of France.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A type of dry red wine from the Bordeaux region of France.
1. The dark purplish-red colour typical of this wine. 2. (British slang, archaic) Blood, especially from a nosebleed or wound.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The word is more commonly used in British English. The slang meaning 'blood' is almost exclusively British and dated. In American English, it is primarily a wine term.
Connotations
In British English, especially in older literature or formal contexts, it can evoke tradition, the upper class, or boxing slang. In American English, it's a straightforward, somewhat sophisticated wine term.
Frequency
Higher frequency in UK English, particularly in wine writing, historical fiction, and older sports journalism.
Grammar
How to Use “claret” in a Sentence
drink [claret]pour [someone] [a claret]a [glass/bottle] of [claret]a [colour] of [claret]the [claret] flowed (slang)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “claret” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- She wore a claret-coloured scarf to the university event.
- The club's claret and blue stripes are famous.
American English
- The designer featured a claret velvet in the new collection.
- His tie was a deep claret hue.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in wine trade, hospitality, and luxury goods marketing.
Academic
Appears in historical texts, oenology (wine science), and cultural studies.
Everyday
Limited to discussions about wine or descriptive colour. Not a common everyday word.
Technical
Specific term in viticulture and oenology for red wine from Bordeaux.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “claret”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “claret”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “claret”
- Pronouncing it as /kləˈret/ (like 'clarinet' without the 'n').
- Using it as a generic term for any red wine.
- Capitalising it incorrectly (not a proper noun: 'claret', not 'Claret').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, 'claret' is the traditional English name for red wine from the Bordeaux region. All claret is Bordeaux, but 'Bordeaux' can also refer to white wines from the region.
No, it is specific to red Bordeaux. Using it for other red wines (e.g., Italian or Spanish) is technically incorrect, though sometimes done loosely in marketing.
It is common in wine-writing and formal contexts. In everyday speech, 'Bordeaux' or simply 'red wine' is more frequent, especially outside the UK.
It's an example of rhyming slang or metaphorical humour, comparing the colour of blood to that of red wine. It was particularly prevalent in 19th and early 20th-century boxing reporting.
A type of dry red wine from the Bordeaux region of France.
Claret is usually formal, literary, specialized (oenology), historical (slang) in register.
Claret: in British English it is pronounced /ˈklær.ət/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkler.ət/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “spill claret (dated BrE slang): to bleed.”
- “tap the claret (dated BrE slang): to make someone's nose bleed, especially in boxing.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a CLARinet player drinking a glass of dark red wine. The sound 'CLAR-et' links the instrument to the wine.
Conceptual Metaphor
LUXURY/REFINEMENT IS A SPECIFIC WINE (e.g., 'the claret of his collection'). BLOOD IS WINE (in dated slang).
Practice
Quiz
In which context might 'claret' be used as dated British slang?