scarlet letter

noun

: a scarlet A worn as a punitive mark of adultery

Examples of scarlet letter in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The digital scarlet letter means a Google search ensures your worst mistake is the first thing an employer or landlord sees. — Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026 In some ways, the shift was accidental, as working in diversity became a scarlet letter. — Doug Melville, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026 But having any Anaplan right now is considered toxic, a scarlet letter of investing. — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 16 Mar. 2026 The drug war swept like fire through barangays, where any stray remark could earn you the scarlet letter of the Philippine National Police. — Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for scarlet letter

Word History

Etymology

from such a letter in the novel The Scarlet Letter (1850) by Nathaniel Hawthorne

First Known Use

1850, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of scarlet letter was in 1850

Rhymes for scarlet letter

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Browse Nearby Words

scarlet larkspur
scarlet letter
scarlet lightning
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Scarlet letter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scarlet%20letter. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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