Meaning & use
oxblood red
Last updated
Meanings
adjectivenot comparable
Having a very deep red color with a hint of brown, like old dark blood.
Grammar: Usually before a noun, or after a verb: oxblood red boots, the door was oxblood red.
Patterns
- painted oxblood red
- an oxblood red something
She polished her oxblood red boots until they shone.
The library had oxblood red walls and heavy green curtains.
He drove an oxblood red sports car from the 1960s.
noununcountable
The deep brownish red color itself.
Grammar: Used without an or the when naming the color: the leather came in oxblood red.
Patterns
- in oxblood red
- a shade of oxblood red
The designer chose oxblood red for the front door.
Oxblood red is popular for autumn leather bags.
The potter perfected a glaze in oxblood red.
Common combinations
- oxblood red leather
- The sofa was covered in oxblood red leather.
- deep oxblood red
- The wine left a deep oxblood red stain.
- oxblood red glaze
- Chinese potters are famous for the oxblood red glaze.
- painted in oxblood red
- The shutters were painted in oxblood red.
- oxblood red lipstick
- She wore oxblood red lipstick to the party.
Synonyms and how they differ
- burgundy
- Burgundy leans toward purple, like red wine, while oxblood red leans toward brown.
- maroon
- Maroon is a general dark red-brown, and it is less specific and less associated with polished leather than oxblood red.
- crimson
- Crimson is a brighter, more vivid red, so it lacks the dark, dull depth of oxblood red.
- cordovan
- Cordovan names a similar reddish-brown mainly for shoe leather, whereas oxblood red is used for many materials.
Word family
Commonly confused: oxblood red or blood red?
oxblood red vs blood red
Blood red is a brighter, pure red; oxblood red is darker and browner.
Practice
Which color is closest to oxblood red?
Choose one answer.
Oxblood red is a dark red with brown in it. Pale pink is the opposite in depth.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “oxblood red”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.