Crimson vs. Plum — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 24, 2024
Crimson is a strong, bright, deep red color, while plum is a dark, purple-red color resembling the fruit.
Difference Between Crimson and Plum
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
In terms of usage in design, crimson is frequently used to convey passion and urgency, whereas plum provides a more sophisticated, regal, and sometimes subdued aesthetic.
Crimson is often seen in flags and emblems, symbolizing valor and bravery. Meanwhile, plum is commonly used in interior design and fashion, offering a sense of luxury and depth.
During seasonal events, crimson is prominent in decorations for holidays like Christmas and Valentine’s Day, highlighting celebration and love. Conversely, plum is a popular choice in fall, reflecting the season's rich and cozy palette.
In the context of cultural symbolism, crimson is associated with ceremonies and prestigious institutions, signifying importance and respect. Plum, however, often appears in artistic contexts, suggesting creativity and decadence.
Comparison Chart
Color Hue
Bright, deep red
Dark, purple-red
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Usage in Design
Emblems, flags, celebratory decor
Interior design, fashion
Symbolism
Valor, bravery, love
Creativity, luxury, sophistication
Seasonal Popularity
Winter holidays
Fall
Compare with Definitions
Crimson
Symbolic of passion and urgency.
The crimson accents in the room added a sense of excitement.
Plum
A dark purple-red color resembling the fruit.
She wore a dress of deep plum that complemented the autumn evening.
Crimson
A strong, vivid red color.
The crimson sunset bathed the whole sky in a deep red.
Plum
Suggestive of richness and luxury.
The plum upholstery in the lounge gave a feeling of decadent comfort.
Crimson
Used in phrases to express severe embarrassment.
She turned crimson when her secret was revealed.
Plum
Often used to describe deep and saturated hues in fashion.
His plum-colored tie added a touch of sophistication to his suit.
Crimson
A frequent choice for celebratory decor.
The party decorations were dominated by shades of crimson.
Plum
Associated with the fruit's sweet and tart taste.
The chef's special dessert featured a sauce made from fresh plums.
Crimson
Crimson is a rich, deep red color, inclining to purple. It originally meant the color of the kermes dye produced from a scale insect, Kermes vermilio, but the name is now sometimes also used as a generic term for slightly bluish-red colors that are between red and rose.
Plum
Represents maturity and wisdom in color psychology.
The library's walls were painted in a soothing shade of plum.
Crimson
Of a rich deep red colour inclining to purple
She blushed crimson with embarrassment
Plum
A plum is a fruit of some species in Prunus subg. Prunus.
Crimson
A rich deep red colour inclining to purple
A pair of corduroy trousers in livid crimson, they were horrid to behold
Plum
Any of several shrubs or small trees of the genus Prunus of the rose family, especially the cultivated species P. domestica and P. salicina, bearing smooth-skinned, fleshy, edible fruit with a single stone.
Crimson
(of a person's face) become flushed, especially through embarrassment
My face crimsoned and my hands began to shake
Plum
The fruit of any of these trees.
Crimson
A deep to vivid purplish red to vivid red.
Plum
Any of several trees bearing plumlike fruit.
Crimson
To make or become deeply or vividly red.
Plum
The fruit of such a tree.
Crimson
A deep, slightly bluish red.
Plum
A raisin, when added to a pudding or cake.
Crimson
Having a deep red colour.
Plum
A sugarplum.
Crimson
Immodest. en
Plum
A dark purple to deep reddish purple.
Crimson
(intransitive) To become crimson or deep red; to blush.
Plum
An especially desirable position, assignment, or reward
An ambassadorship granted as a political plum.
Crimson
(transitive) To dye with crimson or deep red; to redden.
Plum
Variant of plumb.
Crimson
A deep red color tinged with blue; also, red color in general.
Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
A maid yet rosed over with the virgin crimson of modesty.
Plum
Variant of plumb.
Crimson
Of a deep red color tinged with blue; deep red.
The blushing poppy with a crimson hue.
Plum
The fruit and its tree.
Crimson
To dye with crimson or deep red; to redden.
Signed in thy spoil and crimsoned in thy lethe.
Plum
An edible, fleshy stone fruit of Prunus domestica (European plum), often of a dark red or purple colour.
Crimson
To become crimson; to blush.
Ancient towers . . . beginning to crimson with the radiant luster of a cloudless July morning.
Plum
A stone-fruit tree which bears this fruit, Prunus domestica.
Crimson
A deep and vivid red
Plum
The edible, fleshy stone fruit of several species resembling the plum, or the tree from which they grow.
Crimson
Turn red, as if in embarrassment or shame;
The girl blushed when a young man whistled as she walked by
Plum
A dried grape or raisin, as used in a pudding or cake.
Plum
Extended senses.
Plum
One hundred thousand pounds; generally a fortune.
Plum
A desirable or choice thing of its kind; a prize selection; a choice appointment, assignment etc.
The mayor rewarded his cronies with cushy plums, requiring little work for handsome pay.
Plum
A dark bluish-red color/colour, the colour of some plums.
Plum
A testicle.
Plum
A fool, an idiot.
Plum
(comparable) Of a dark bluish-red colour.
Plum
(not comparable) Choice; especially lavish or preferred.
She landed a plum position as an executive for the firm.
Plum
Plumb
Plum
Completely; utterly.
You're going to think I'm plum crazy for this, but I want to adopt all seven kittens.
Plum
(mining) To plumb.
Plum
The edible drupaceous fruit of the Prunus domestica, and of several other species of Prunus; also, the tree itself, usually called plum tree.
The bullace, the damson, and the numerous varieties of plum, of our gardens, although growing into thornless trees, are believed to be varieties of the blackthorn, produced by long cultivation.
Plum
A grape dried in the sun; a raisin.
Plum
A handsome fortune or property; formerly, in cant language, the sum of £100,000 sterling; also, the person possessing it.
Plum
Something likened to a plum in desirableness; a good or choice thing of its kind, as among appointments, positions, parts of a book, etc.; as, the mayor rewarded his cronies with cushy plums, requiring little work for handsome pay
Plum
A color resembling that of a plum; a slightly grayish deep purple, varying somewhat in its red or blue tint.
Plum
Any of several trees producing edible oval smooth-skinned fruit with a single hard stone
Plum
Any of numerous varieties of small to medium-sized round or oval smooth-skinned fruit with a single pit
Plum
Exactly;
Fell plumb in the middle of the puddle
Plum
Completely; used as intensifiers;
Clean forgot the appointment
I'm plumb (or plum) tuckered out
Common Curiosities
What is the primary color base of crimson?
Crimson has a primary color base of deep red.
What type of products is the plum color often seen in?
Plum is often seen in fashion and interior design products.
Why might an artist choose plum over crimson for a painting?
An artist might choose plum for its depth and subtlety, which can convey a richer, more complex emotion.
What feelings does the color plum evoke?
Plum evokes feelings of luxury, sophistication, and creativity.
What seasons are most associated with the color crimson?
Crimson is most associated with winter and early spring seasons.
How is crimson typically used in holiday decorations?
Crimson is popular in Christmas and Valentine’s Day decorations for its bright and passionate hue.
Can plum be considered a neutral color?
While deep and rich, plum can sometimes function as a neutral, especially in fashion and design.
Is crimson a warm or cool color?
Crimson is considered a warm color.
How does the symbolism of crimson differ in Eastern cultures?
In Eastern cultures, crimson often symbolizes good fortune and joy.
What does wearing a plum dress signify?
Wearing a plum dress can signify elegance, maturity, and a refined fashion sense.
What are some natural sources of the color crimson?
Natural sources include the cochineal insect and certain flowers.
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Written by
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.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
