magenta
1 Americannoun
noun
-
-
a deep purplish red that is the complementary colour of green and, with yellow and cyan, forms a set of primary colours
-
( as adjective )
a magenta filter
-
-
another name for fuchsin
Etymology
Origin of magenta
After Magenta, because the dye was discovered the year of the battle.
Explanation
Magenta is a bright reddish-purple color. If you dye your hair magenta, you'll really stand out in a crowd. Magenta is a shade that's related to colors like fire engine-red and hot pink — it's deep and bold. The color called fuchsia is nearly the same, a mixture of red and blue that's across from green on a color wheel (in other words, green is magenta's complementary color). Magenta-colored dye was first produced in the 1850s, and the color was named after the 1859 "Battle of Magenta" in the Second Italian War of Independence.
Vocabulary lists containing magenta
Pink
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Purple
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Bold purple and magenta animations of galloping warriors silhouetted against rustling pines cover entire walls.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 7, 2026
Wearing a purple, yellow and magenta colorblocked T-shirt, Okatsuka flashes aqua nails topped off with hot dog charms.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 26, 2025
All are Harlequins jerseys, but none are in the club's trademark colours of blue, magenta, brown and grey.
From BBC • Dec. 27, 2024
In 2022, this magenta state produced a balanced delegation of seven Republicans and seven Democrats, very likely a fair representation of voter preferences.
From Salon • Dec. 1, 2024
I turn to see Autumn, sprinting up the street with a newly donned magenta track jacket and a pair of Adidas sneakers.
From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer
![]()
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.