crimson

Crimson is a deep, vivid red color with a hint of purple that places it between scarlet and burgundy. In common usage it denotes a rich, saturated red, often associated with passion, luxury, and tradition. The color has many regional and industry-specific variants, and its exact shade can vary across media and display.

Historically, crimson denotes a dye produced from certain scale insects, notably the kermes insect. The term is linked to this dye, which was prized in medieval and early modern Europe. Later, carmine dyes derived from the cochineal insect became widespread, and the name crimson came to describe a broader range of deep red hues regardless of its source.

In design and art, crimson is used to convey intensity and authority. It is distinct from true red or scarlet in that it often carries cooler or more purplish tones, depending on lighting and pigments. In heraldry, red is generally referred to as gules; crimson per se is not a standard tincture, though the term appears in some color catalogs and historical texts.

Culturally, the term figures prominently in institutions and media. The Harvard Crimson is the name of Harvard University’s student newspaper and its athletic teams. Other schools and brands adopt crimson as a distinctive color identity, sometimes overlapping with maroon or burgundy.

In nature, crimson appears in the plumage of some birds and in the fruits and flowers that produce deep red pigments. Because it sits between colors perceptually, digital representations of crimson can vary across devices.

Related terms include scarlet and vermilion, which are often used as synonyms or near-synonyms in various contexts.