Maroon vs. Red: What's the Difference?
Edited by Harlon Moss || By Janet White || Updated on September 28, 2023
Maroon is a dark, brownish-red color, while red is a primary color representing the longest wavelengths perceivable by the human eye.
Key Differences
Maroon and red are both colors found in the color spectrum, but they are distinguished mainly by their tone and shade. Maroon is a dark, brownish-red color, typically associated with richness and depth. It is often seen as a more muted and less vibrant shade compared to red. The name "maroon" is derived from the French word "marron," which means chestnut, a reflection of the color’s brownish hue.
On the other hand, red is a primary color that is at the extreme end of the visible light spectrum. It is bold, vibrant, and attention-grabbing, often associated with strong emotions like love and anger. The term "red" is derived from the Old English word "rēad." Red is seen as a more generalized color term compared to maroon, which represents a specific shade of red.
When observing these colors in nature or art, maroon tends to evoke a sense of sophistication and reserved elegance due to its depth and richness. It's a color that is often used in formal attire, academic robes, or corporate logos, signaling professionalism and seriousness. Red, however, being bright and eye-catching, is frequently employed to grab attention and evoke emotions. It is a color commonly used in stop signs, branding, and festive decorations, symbolizing excitement and passion.
In terms of application and perception, maroon is seen as a more subdued and elegant shade, ideal for formal and composed settings, and it often implies a sense of tradition and respectability. Red, with its high visibility and vibrancy, is used to attract attention and signify importance or urgency. It is a versatile color with different shades and tones representing various moods and meanings, from the softness of pink to the richness of burgundy.
Comparison Chart
Hue
Brownish-red
Pure color on the spectrum
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Tone
Darker, more muted
Brighter, more vibrant
Usage
Formal, sophisticated
Attention-grabbing, emotional
Associations
Elegance, seriousness, tradition
Passion, excitement, importance
Origin of the Name
French word "marron" for chestnut
Old English word "rēad"
Maroon and Red Definitions
Maroon
A color resembling the shade of chestnuts.
She wore a maroon dress to the formal event.
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Red
A primary color at the end of the visible spectrum.
The red apple looked juicy and delicious.
Maroon
A shade associated with formality and tradition.
The university's colors are maroon and white.
Red
A bold, attention-grabbing hue.
The red sign caught the attention of all passersby.
Maroon
A dark, brownish-red color.
The maroon curtains added a touch of elegance to the room.
Red
A versatile color with various shades representing different moods.
The soft red of the sunset created a calming atmosphere.
Maroon
To put ashore on a deserted island or coast and intentionally abandon.
Red
The hue of the long-wavelength end of the visible spectrum, evoked in the human observer by radiant energy with wavelengths of approximately 630 to 750 nanometers; any of a group of colors that may vary in lightness and saturation and whose hue resembles that of blood; one of the additive or light primaries; one of the psychological primary hues.
Maroon
To abandon or isolate with little hope of ready rescue or escape
The travelers were marooned by the blizzard.
Red
A pigment or dye having a red hue.
Maroon
A fugitive black slave in the West Indies in the 1600s and 1700s.
Red
Something that has a red hue.
Maroon
A descendant of such a slave.
Red
Often Red A Communist.
Maroon
A person who is marooned, as on an island.
Red
A revolutionary activist.
Maroon
A dark reddish brown to dark purplish red.
Red
The condition of being in debt or operating at a loss
The firm has been in the red all year.
Maroon
An escaped negro of the Caribbean and the Americas or a descendant of such a person.
Red
Having a color resembling that of blood.
Maroon
A castaway; a person who has been marooned.
Red
Reddish in color or having parts that are reddish in color
A red dog.
A red oak.
Maroon
A rich dark red, somewhat brownish, color.
Red
Having a reddish or coppery skin color.
Maroon
(nautical) A rocket-propelled firework or skyrocket, often one used as a signal (e.g. to summon the crew of a lifeboat or warn of an air raid).
Red
Often Red Often Offensive Of or being a Native American.
Maroon
An idiot; a fool.
Red
Having a ruddy or flushed complexion
Red with embarrassment.
Maroon
Associated with Maroon culture, communities or peoples.
Red
Relating to or being a red state.
Maroon
Of a maroon color
Red
Often Red Communist.
Maroon
To abandon in a remote, desolate place, as on a desert island.
Red
Having red#Noun as its color.
The girl wore a red skirt.
Maroon
In the West Indies and Guiana, a fugitive slave, or a free negro, living in the mountains.
Red
(of hair) Having an orange-brown or orange-blond colour; ginger.
Her hair had red highlights.
Maroon
A brownish or dull red of any description, esp. of a scarlet cast rather than approaching crimson or purple.
Red
(of the skin) With a red hue due to embarrassment or sunburn.
Maroon
An explosive shell. See Marron, 3.
Red
Of the hearts or diamonds suits. Compare of the spades or clubs suits
I got two red queens, and he got one of the black queens.
Maroon
To put (a person) ashore on a desolate island or coast and leave him to his fate.
Red
Supportive of, related to, or dominated by a political party or movement represented by the color red:
Maroon
Having the color called maroon. See 4th Maroon.
Red
Left-wing parties and movements, chiefly socialist or communist, including the U.K. Labour party and the Social Democratic Party of Germany.
The red-black grand coalition in Germany
Maroon
A person who is stranded (as on an island);
When the tide came in I was a maroon out there
Red
(US politics) The U.S. Republican Party.
A red state
A red Congress
Maroon
A dark purplish red to dark brownish red
Red
Amerind; relating to Amerindians or First Nations
Maroon
An exploding firework used as a warning signal
Red
(astronomy) Of the lower-frequency region of the (typically visible) part of the electromagnetic spectrum which is relevant in the specific observation.
Maroon
Leave stranded or isolated withe little hope og rescue;
The travellers were marooned
Red
(particle physics) Having a color charge of red.
Maroon
Leave stranded on a desert island without resources;
The mutinous sailors were marooned on an island
Red
Any of a range of colours having the longest wavelengths, 670 nm, of the visible spectrum; a primary additive colour for transmitted light: the colour obtained by subtracting green and blue from white light using magenta and yellow filters; the colour of blood, ripe strawberries, etc.
Red can be seen as hot or angry.
Maroon
Dark brownish to purplish red
Red
(countable) A revolutionary socialist or (most commonly) a Communist; usually capitalized a Bolshevik, a supporter of the Bolsheviks in the Russian Civil War.
Maroon
A color representing richness and depth.
The maroon upholstery seemed sophisticated and refined.
Red
One of the 15 red balls used in snooker, distinguished from the colours.
Maroon
A muted and reserved shade of red.
The maroon carpet created a cozy and warm atmosphere.
Red
Red wine.
Red
(countable) Any of several varieties of ale which are brewed with red or kilned malt, giving the beer a red colour.
Red
A red kangaroo.
Red
A redshank.
Red
An American Indian.
Red
(slang) The drug secobarbital; a capsule of this drug.
Red
(informal) A red light a traffic signal
Red
(particle physics) One of the three color charges for quarks.
Red
Usually in the phrase "bowl of red".
Red
(informal) The redfish or red drum, Sciaenops ocellatus, a fish with reddish fins and scales.
Red
Tomato ketchup.
Red
(archaic) rede
Red
To put on order; to make tidy; also, to free from entanglement or embarrassement; - generally with up; as, to red up a house.
Red
Of the color of blood, or of a tint resembling that color; of the hue of that part of the rainbow, or of the solar spectrum, which is furthest from the violet part.
Your color, I warrant you, is as red as any rose.
Red
The color of blood, or of that part of the spectrum farthest from violet, or a tint resembling these.
Red
A red pigment.
Red
The menses.
Red
The quality or state of the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
Red
A tributary of the Mississippi River that flows eastward from Texas along the southern boundary of Oklahoma and through Louisiana
Red
Emotionally charged terms used to refer to extreme radicals or revolutionaries
Red
The amount by which the cost of a business exceeds its revenue;
The company operated at a loss last year
The company operated in the red last year
Red
Having any of numerous bright or strong colors reminiscent of the color of blood or cherries or tomatoes or rubies
Red
Characterized by violence or bloodshed;
Writes of crimson deeds and barbaric days
Fann'd by Conquest's crimson wing
Convulsed with red rage
Red
(especially of the face) reddened or suffused with or as if with blood from emotion or exertion;
Crimson with fury
Turned red from exertion
With puffy reddened eyes
Red-faced and violent
Flushed (or crimson) with embarrassment
Red
Red with or characterized by blood;
Waving our red weapons o'er our heads
The Red Badge of Courage
The red rules of tooth and claw
Red
A color symbolizing passion and excitement.
She painted her nails red to match her vibrant personality.
Red
A color often associated with love and anger.
He gave her a red rose as a symbol of his love.
FAQs
Does maroon have a brownish tone?
Yes, maroon is characterized by its brownish undertone.
Is maroon more formal than red?
Maroon is often perceived as more formal and sophisticated compared to the vibrant and attention-grabbing red.
Can red symbolize both love and anger?
Yes, red is versatile and can symbolize intense emotions like love and anger.
Is red more attention-grabbing than maroon?
Generally, the brightness and vibrancy of red make it more attention-grabbing than the muted maroon.
Does the word maroon derive from the French word for chestnut?
Yes, maroon is derived from the French word "marron," meaning chestnut.
Is maroon a shade of red?
Yes, maroon is considered a brownish-red shade.
Is red a symbol of excitement?
Yes, red is often associated with excitement and passion.
Can maroon be used in formal settings?
Yes, maroon is often suitable for formal and elegant settings due to its subdued and rich tone.
Is red a primary color?
Yes, red is one of the three primary colors.
Is red the color of stop signs?
Yes, stop signs are typically red to grab attention and signify importance.
Is maroon darker than red?
Generally, maroon is a darker and more muted shade compared to red.
Can maroon be associated with seriousness?
Yes, the rich and subdued tone of maroon can represent seriousness and formality.
Can maroon represent elegance and tradition?
Yes, maroon is often associated with elegance, sophistication, and tradition.
Does red have various shades and tones?
Yes, red has a variety of shades and tones, each representing different moods and meanings.
Can red signify danger?
Yes, red is often used to signify danger due to its visibility and association with warning and alert.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Harlon MossHarlon is a seasoned quality moderator and accomplished content writer for Difference Wiki. An alumnus of the prestigious University of California, he earned his degree in Computer Science. Leveraging his academic background, Harlon brings a meticulous and informed perspective to his work, ensuring content accuracy and excellence.
