Cardinal vs. Maroon — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on May 2, 2024
Cardinal is a vivid red color, often associated with richness and warmth, while maroon is a darker shade of red mixed with brown, conveying a more subdued and mature tone.
Difference Between Cardinal and Maroon
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Cardinal red is a bright, vivid shade of red that is clear and striking. On the other hand, maroon has a deeper, browner tone that makes it less vibrant but gives it a richer and more reserved appearance.
Cardinal is often used in contexts that require attention-grabbing colors, such as in sports team logos or ceremonial robes, emphasizing vibrancy and visibility. Conversely, maroon is frequently chosen for uniforms, decor, and clothing to project sophistication and understated elegance.
In terms of color mixing, cardinal can be achieved by blending red with a slight hint of blue to achieve its distinctive bright hue, whereas maroon is typically created by adding brown to red, resulting in its darker, more muted appearance.
The emotional impact of cardinal is one of energy and passion, reflecting its brightness and intensity. In contrast, maroon evokes stability and depth, making it a favorite for more formal or traditional designs.
Comparison Chart
Hue
Bright, vivid red
Dark red with brown
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Common Uses
Sports uniforms, ceremonial attire
Academic gowns, formal clothing
Emotional Impact
Energy, passion
Stability, depth
Color Mixing
Red with a hint of blue
Red with brown
Visibility
High visibility, attention-grabbing
More subdued, sophisticated
Compare with Definitions
Cardinal
A bright, vivid red color.
The cardinal robes of the Catholic cardinals are instantly recognizable.
Maroon
Suitable for traditional designs and decor.
They picked maroon tiles to maintain the room's classic feel.
Cardinal
Often used for high visibility purposes.
The cardinal stripe on the helmet stands out from a distance.
Maroon
Preferred for its subdued elegance.
The maroon curtains added a touch of understated luxury to the room.
Cardinal
Symbolic of vitality and passion.
Cardinal accents in the painting energized the entire artwork.
Maroon
Maroon (US/UK mə-ROON, Australia mə-ROHN) is a brownish crimson color that takes its name from the French word marron, or chestnut. "Marron" is also one of the French translations for "brown".
Cardinal
Associated with important traditional roles.
Cardinal is often used in significant ceremonial attire.
Maroon
Of a brownish-red colour
Ornate maroon and gold wallpaper
Cardinal
Reflects a classic shade of pure red.
She chose a cardinal shade for her wedding theme.
Maroon
A member of any of various communities in parts of the Caribbean who were originally descended from escaped slaves. In the 18th century Jamaican Maroons fought two wars against the British, both of which ended with treaties affirming the independence of the Maroons.
Cardinal
Of foremost importance; paramount
A cardinal rule.
Cardinal sins.
Maroon
Leave (someone) trapped and alone in an inaccessible place, especially an island
A novel about schoolboys marooned on a desert island
Cardinal
Dark to deep or vivid red.
Maroon
To put ashore on a deserted island or coast and intentionally abandon.
Cardinal
Abbr. Card. Roman Catholic Church A high church official, ranking just below the pope, who has been appointed by a pope to membership in the College of Cardinals.
Maroon
To abandon or isolate with little hope of ready rescue or escape
The travelers were marooned by the blizzard.
Cardinal
A dark to deep or vivid red.
Maroon
A fugitive black slave in the West Indies in the 1600s and 1700s.
Cardinal
A North American bird (Cardinalis cardinalis) having a crested head, a short thick bill, and bright red plumage in the male.
Maroon
A descendant of such a slave.
Cardinal
A short hooded cloak, originally of scarlet cloth, worn by women in the 1700s.
Maroon
A person who is marooned, as on an island.
Cardinal
A cardinal number.
Maroon
A dark reddish brown to dark purplish red.
Cardinal
Of fundamental importance; crucial, pivotal.
A cardinal rule
Maroon
An escaped negro of the Caribbean and the Americas or a descendant of such a person.
Cardinal
(nautical) Of or relating to the cardinal directions (north, south, east and west).
A cardinal mark
Maroon
A castaway; a person who has been marooned.
Cardinal
Describing a "natural" number used to indicate quantity (e.g., zero, one, two, three), as opposed to an ordinal number indicating relative position.
Maroon
A rich dark red, somewhat brownish, color.
Cardinal
Having a bright red color (from the color of a Catholic cardinal's cassock).
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).
Cardinal
(Roman Catholic) One of the officials appointed by the pope in the Roman Catholic Church, ranking only below the pope and the patriarchs, constituting the special college which elects the pope. (See Wikipedia article on Catholic cardinals.)
Maroon
An idiot; a fool.
Cardinal
Any of a genus of songbirds of the finch family, Cardinalis.
Maroon
Associated with Maroon culture, communities or peoples.
Cardinal
Any of various related passerine birds of the family Cardinalidae (See Wikipedia article on cardinals) and other similar birds that were once considered to be related.
Maroon
Of a maroon color
Cardinal
(color) A deep red color, somewhat less vivid than scarlet, the traditional colour of a Catholic cardinal's cassock. cardinal red}}
Maroon
To abandon in a remote, desolate place, as on a desert island.
Cardinal
(math) dot=, a number indicating quantity, or the size of a set (e.g., 0, 1, 2, 3). Cardinal_number.}}
Maroon
In the West Indies and Guiana, a fugitive slave, or a free negro, living in the mountains.
Cardinal
(grammar) dot=, a word used to represent a cardinal number.
Maroon
A brownish or dull red of any description, esp. of a scarlet cast rather than approaching crimson or purple.
Cardinal
(Lobelia cardinalis), a flowering plant.
Maroon
An explosive shell. See Marron, 3.
Cardinal
(Paracheirodon axelrodi), a freshwater fish.
Maroon
To put (a person) ashore on a desolate island or coast and leave him to his fate.
Cardinal
A woman's short cloak with a hood, originally made of scarlet cloth.
Maroon
Having the color called maroon. See 4th Maroon.
Cardinal
(obsolete) Mulled red wine.
Maroon
A person who is stranded (as on an island);
When the tide came in I was a maroon out there
Cardinal
Of fundamental importance; preëminent; superior; chief; principal.
The cardinal intersections of the zodiac.
Impudence is now a cardinal virtue.
But cardinal sins, and hollow hearts, I fear ye.
Maroon
A dark purplish red to dark brownish red
Cardinal
One of the ecclesiastical princes who constitute the pope's council, or the sacred college.
The clerics of the supreme Chair are called Cardinals, as undoubtedly adhering more nearly to the hinge by which all things are moved.
Maroon
An exploding firework used as a warning signal
Cardinal
A woman's short cloak with a hood.
Where's your cardinal! Make haste.
Maroon
Leave stranded or isolated withe little hope og rescue;
The travellers were marooned
Cardinal
Mulled red wine.
Maroon
Leave stranded on a desert island without resources;
The mutinous sailors were marooned on an island
Cardinal
The cardinal bird, also called the northern cardinal.
Maroon
Dark brownish to purplish red
Cardinal
(Roman Catholic Church) one of a group of more than 100 prominent bishops in the Sacred College who advise the Pope and elect new Popes
Maroon
A dark red color mixed with brown.
His maroon suit was perfect for the evening gala.
Cardinal
The number of elements in a mathematical set; denotes a quantity but not the order
Maroon
Commonly used in formal and sophisticated settings.
The university's official color is maroon.
Cardinal
A variable color averaging a vivid red
Maroon
Represents maturity and depth.
The maroon background gave the portrait a somber tone.
Cardinal
Crested thick-billed North American finch having bright red plumage in the male
Cardinal
Serving as an essential component;
A cardinal rule
The central cause of the problem
An example that was fundamental to the argument
Computers are fundamental to modern industrial structure
Cardinal
Being or denoting a numerical quantity but not order;
Cardinal numbers
Common Curiosities
How is maroon different from cardinal?
Maroon is a darker, more subdued shade of red, mixed with brown, compared to the vivid and bright cardinal.
Is cardinal suitable for everyday wear?
While striking, cardinal may be too vivid for everyday wear but is great for special occasions or items needing to stand out.
What is cardinal red?
Cardinal red is a bright, vivid shade of red that is both striking and clear.
Where is cardinal red typically used?
Cardinal red is often used in sports team logos, ceremonial robes, and other contexts requiring high visibility.
Can the color cardinal be mixed easily?
Cardinal can be mixed by adding a slight hint of blue to red.
How do you create the color maroon?
Maroon is created by adding brown to red, resulting in its characteristic dark shade.
What emotions does cardinal evoke?
Cardinal evokes feelings of energy and passion due to its brightness and intensity.
Why might someone choose maroon over cardinal?
Maroon may be preferred for its richer, more mature appearance and its suitability for formal and traditional settings.
What are the typical uses for maroon?
Maroon is frequently used in formal wear, academic gowns, and sophisticated decor.
What feelings does maroon represent?
Maroon conveys stability, depth, and maturity, making it suitable for more reserved or formal applications.
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Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
