claret

IPA/ˈklærət/
IPA/ˈklærət/

claret — noun

  • claretsingular
  • claretsplural

1. a Bordeaux-region wine that is red and dry, with a flavour that wine drinkers de

1.nounB1
Definition

a Bordeaux-region wine that is red and dry, with a flavour that wine drinkers describe as firm and full-bodied.

Example

Asher brought two bottles of aged claret to the dinner party.

countable: bottle of claret

The restaurant's wine list offered several excellent clarets from the 2015 vintage.

countable plural: clarets from a vintage

Common collocations
  • bottle of claret
  • glass of claret
  • aged claret
  • fine claret
  • claret from Bordeaux
  • drink claret
  • serve claret
Synonyms
  • Bordeaux

    the same wine; 'Bordeaux' is the neutral geographical term, while 'claret' is the traditional British name

  • red Bordeaux

    more formal and descriptive; used by wine experts and on labels

Grammar Patterns

glass/bottle of claret

claret from [region]

Usage Note

Common in British English but less frequent in American English, where 'Bordeaux' is the usual term. You can order 'a claret' (a glass) or 'a claret' (a specific wine from that region).

Common Mistakes

Pass me a claret bottle.
Pass me a bottle of claret.
'claret' is the wine, not the container.

2. a shade between deep red and violet, taking its name from the colour of red Bord

2.nounB2
Definition

a shade between deep red and violet, taking its name from the colour of red Bordeaux wine.

Example

Nellie chose a claret scarf to match her dark coat and boots.

attributive use: claret scarf

The living room walls were painted a deep claret, giving the space a warm feel.

uncountable: a deep claret (colour)

Common collocations
  • deep claret
  • rich claret
  • shade of claret
  • claret colour
  • claret lipstick
  • claret fabric
Synonyms
  • burgundy

    a similar dark red with purple tones; burgundy is slightly bluer while claret is more red-brown

  • wine red

    a more general term for the colour of red wine; less specific than claret

  • maroon

    a dark brownish-red; maroon has less purple than claret

Grammar Patterns

claret + noun (as modifier)

shade of claret

Usage Note

Often used attributively (before a noun), e.g. 'a claret jacket'. British English uses this colour name more widely than American English.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Bordeaux' is the neutral geographical term for any wine from the Bordeaux region — red, white, or sweet. 'Claret' is the traditional British name for dry red Bordeaux specifically; it is less formal and more old-fashioned. 'Red Bordeaux' is the descriptive label used on wine lists and bottles to specify the type. While a wine merchant might say 'this is a fine claret', a modern wine critic is more likely to say 'this is a fine red Bordeaux'. For everyday use in British English, 'claret' is understood; in American English, 'Bordeaux' is the standard term. Example: 'We opened a bottle of claret with dinner' (British) vs. 'We opened a bottle of Bordeaux with dinner' (neutral/ American).

Bordeauxclaret ↗red Bordeaux

Common collocations

Nouns

Etymology

LatinFrenchAnglo-NormanEnglish

Borrowed from French 'claret', the Anglo-Norman form of Old French 'clairet' (a pale wine), a diminutive of 'clair' (clear, light). The word originally referred to a light-coloured wine in medieval times, but by the 17th century it had come to mean the dark red wine of Bordeaux in English — a meaning shift that reflects changing British tastes in imported French wine.

First known use

1689

1689, in the meaning defined at sense 1