cinnabar
noun
cin·na·bar
ˈsi-nə-ˌbär 
1
: artificial red mercuric sulfide used especially as a pigment
2
: a red mineral consisting of native mercuric sulfide HgS that is the only important ore of mercury
3
: a deep vivid red
Examples of cinnabar in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Meanwhile, the considerable presence of a mineral called red cinnabar hinted that a high-status individual had been buried there.
—
Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 July 2025
The red was a deep shade, archaeologists said, meaning it may have been made from a precious pigment, and analysis will be needed to determine if the color was derived from cinnabar, a mineral like mercury sulfide.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 25 June 2025
The capsule continues to foreground the use of regionally characteristic materials such as jade, cinnabar, porcelain, and Asian cultural symbols like 玄武 (the Black Tortoise) and 青龙 (the Azure Dragon).
—Gemma A. Williams, Forbes.com, 12 June 2025
At the turn of the 20th century, cinnabar ore (which is used to create liquid mercury, once an important resource for manufacturing firearms) was discovered in the area, and the town's population boomed.
—Amanda Ogle, Travel + Leisure, 15 Feb. 2025
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Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 July 2025
The red was a deep shade, archaeologists said, meaning it may have been made from a precious pigment, and analysis will be needed to determine if the color was derived from cinnabar, a mineral like mercury sulfide.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 25 June 2025
The capsule continues to foreground the use of regionally characteristic materials such as jade, cinnabar, porcelain, and Asian cultural symbols like 玄武 (the Black Tortoise) and 青龙 (the Azure Dragon).
—Gemma A. Williams, Forbes.com, 12 June 2025
At the turn of the 20th century, cinnabar ore (which is used to create liquid mercury, once an important resource for manufacturing firearms) was discovered in the area, and the town's population boomed.
—Amanda Ogle, Travel + Leisure, 15 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cinnabar
Cite this Entry
“Cinnabar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cinnabar. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cinnabar
noun
cin·na·bar
ˈsin-ə-ˌbär
: a red mineral that consists of a sulfide of mercury and is the only important ore of mercury
Medical Definition
cinnabar
noun
cin·na·bar
ˈsin-ə-ˌbär
1
: native red sulfide of mercury HgS that is the only important ore of mercury
2
: artificial red sulfide of mercury used especially as a pigment
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