Maroon vs. Red: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Maroon is a dark brownish-red color, often with a purple or burgundy tone, while red is a primary color at the end of the visible spectrum.
Key Differences
Maroon is a dark, rich color that is a blend of brown and red, often associated with a more subdued, sophisticated appearance. Red is a primary, bright color, often associated with strong emotions like passion, danger, or love.
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Maroon color is often used in formal or elegant settings due to its deep, muted tones. Red is known for its attention-grabbing quality, red is vibrant and can signify importance or urgency.
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Maroon is the color is frequently seen in academic robes, military uniforms, and formal attire, suggesting solemnity and respect. Red in cultural contexts, red is a symbol of luck, celebration, and festivity, especially in Asian cultures.
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Maroon is a popular choice in interior design for creating a warm, cozy atmosphere. Red in contrast, red is used in design and fashion to create a striking, bold statement.
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Maroon color can also suggest maturity and earthiness, given its brownish undertones. Red, by its nature, is associated with energy, strength, and power.
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Comparison Chart
Design Preference
Warm, cozy atmospheres
Striking, attention-grabbing spaces
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Maroon and Red Definitions
Maroon
A color that suggests maturity and earthiness.
Her maroon dress was perfect for the autumn festival.
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Red
Symbolizes passion, danger, and love.
Red roses are often given as a symbol of love.
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Maroon
A dark, brownish-red color.
The maroon curtains added a touch of elegance to the room.
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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.
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Maroon
Popular in interior design for creating a warm atmosphere.
They painted the living room walls maroon to make it cozier.
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Maroon
To put ashore on a deserted island or coast and intentionally abandon.
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Maroon
To abandon or isolate with little hope of ready rescue or escape
The travelers were marooned by the blizzard.
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Red
The condition of being in debt or operating at a loss
The firm has been in the red all year.
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Red
Reddish in color or having parts that are reddish in color
A red dog.
A red oak.
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Maroon
An escaped negro of the Caribbean and the Americas or a descendant of such a person.
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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).
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Red
(of hair) Having an orange-brown or orange-blond colour; ginger.
Her hair had red highlights.
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Maroon
In the West Indies and Guiana, a fugitive slave, or a free negro, living in the mountains.
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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.
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Maroon
A brownish or dull red of any description, esp. of a scarlet cast rather than approaching crimson or purple.
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Red
Supportive of, related to, or dominated by a political party or movement represented by the color red:
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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
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Maroon
To put (a person) ashore on a desolate island or coast and leave him to his fate.
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Maroon
A person who is stranded (as on an island);
When the tide came in I was a maroon out there
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Red
(astronomy) Of the lower-frequency region of the (typically visible) part of the electromagnetic spectrum which is relevant in the specific observation.
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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.
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Maroon
Leave stranded or isolated withe little hope og rescue;
The travellers were marooned
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Red
(countable) A revolutionary socialist or (most commonly) a Communist; usually capitalized a Bolshevik, a supporter of the Bolsheviks in the Russian Civil War.
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Maroon
Leave stranded on a desert island without resources;
The mutinous sailors were marooned on an island
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Red
One of the 15 red balls used in snooker, distinguished from the colours.
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Maroon
Often associated with formality and sophistication.
He chose a maroon tie for the formal event.
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Red
(countable) Any of several varieties of ale which are brewed with red or kilned malt, giving the beer a red colour.
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Maroon
Used in clothing to convey a sense of seriousness and respect.
The graduation robes were a traditional maroon.
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Red
(informal) The redfish or red drum, Sciaenops ocellatus, a fish with reddish fins and scales.
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Red
To put on order; to make tidy; also, to free from entanglement or embarrassement; - generally with up; as, to red up a house.
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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.
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Red
The color of blood, or of that part of the spectrum farthest from violet, or a tint resembling these.
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Red
The quality or state of the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
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Red
A tributary of the Mississippi River that flows eastward from Texas along the southern boundary of Oklahoma and through Louisiana
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Red
Emotionally charged terms used to refer to extreme radicals or revolutionaries
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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
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Red
Having any of numerous bright or strong colors reminiscent of the color of blood or cherries or tomatoes or rubies
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Red
Characterized by violence or bloodshed;
Writes of crimson deeds and barbaric days
Fann'd by Conquest's crimson wing
Convulsed with red rage
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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
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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
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Red
A primary color, bright and attention-grabbing.
The red balloon stood out against the blue sky.
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Red
Used in fashion to make bold statements.
She wore a striking red dress to the party.
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Red
In many cultures, a color of luck and celebration.
Red lanterns are hung during the Lunar New Year for good luck.
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Red
Associated with energy, strength, and power.
The red sports car was the epitome of speed and power.
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Repeatedly Asked Queries
Can maroon be used to describe clothing?
Yes, maroon is a common color for clothing, especially in uniforms and sports teams.
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In what contexts is the term "maroon" used other than color?
"Maroon" can refer to a type of escapee or fugitive, often used historically for escaped slaves.
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What are some common phrases or expressions involving the color red?
Examples include "seeing red" for extreme anger and "in the red" for financial loss.
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Where does the word "maroon" come from?
The word "maroon" is derived from the French word "marron," meaning chestnut.
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What is the color red?
Red is a bright and vibrant color that falls between the warm colors on the color spectrum.
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Can maroon be used as a verb?
Yes, "maroon" can also be a verb, meaning to leave someone stranded or isolated.
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What emotions or associations are often linked to the color maroon?
Maroon is associated with qualities like strength, courage, and warmth.
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Is red commonly used in warning signs and signals?
Yes, red is a common color for warning signs and signals due to its visibility.
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What is the connection between red and Valentine's Day?
Red is often associated with love, which is why it's a prominent color in Valentine's Day decorations and gifts.
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Is maroon the same as burgundy?
Maroon and burgundy are similar, but burgundy is typically darker and more purplish.
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Is red associated with any specific emotions or feelings?
Red is often associated with strong emotions like love, anger, and excitement.
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Is there a particular shade of red that is most widely recognized?
Bright or "fire engine" red is one of the most widely recognized shades of red.
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Is maroon a common color in nature?
Some fruits and leaves in nature have maroon hues, but it's not as common as other colors.
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What is the symbolism of the color red in various cultures?
Red can symbolize love, passion, anger, and good luck in different cultures.
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Can the word "red" be used as a verb?
Yes, "red" can be used as a verb to describe the action of coloring something red.
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What are complementary colors to maroon?
Complementary colors to maroon are shades of green.
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Is red considered a primary color?
In additive color theory, red is one of the primary colors, along with blue and green.
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What industries or contexts often use the color red in branding or marketing?
Red is commonly used in the food industry, sports teams, and emergency services for branding and marketing due to its attention-grabbing nature.
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.