Cardinal vs. Maroon: What's the Difference?
Edited by Aimie Carlson || By Janet White || Updated on October 12, 2023
Cardinal" refers to a bright red color or a high-ranking church official, while "Maroon" is a dark reddish-brown color or a person stranded in a remote place.
Key Differences
The term Cardinal, when used in a color context, refers to a vivid and bright shade of red. It's bold and can be easily spotted. Conversely, Maroon describes a deeper, dark reddish-brown hue, which is often considered richer and more subdued than cardinal red.
Beyond color, Cardinal has religious connotations, specifically referring to high-ranking officials in the Roman Catholic Church. These officials are second only to the Pope. In contrast, Maroon, when not used as a color, indicates someone who has been left behind or stranded, often in a remote place.
Cardinal can also denote importance or fundamental principles, as in "cardinal directions" or "cardinal rules." Maroon, when used as a verb, signifies the act of abandoning someone in a desolate location without resources.
While both Cardinal and Maroon have connections to color, their additional meanings diverge significantly. One has religious and principled implications, and the other brings forth imagery of isolation and abandonment.
In summary, both Cardinal and Maroon play dual roles in the English language, representing distinct shades of red and also holding unique meanings outside the realm of color.
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Comparison Chart
Color Description
Bright, vivid red
Dark reddish-brown
Alternate Meaning
High-ranking church official
Person stranded; act of stranding
Tone & Feel
Bold, important
Deep, isolated
Usage Outside Color
Religious, fundamental
Abandonment, isolation
Common Association
Catholic Church, primary principles
Desertion, rich color
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Cardinal and Maroon Definitions
Cardinal
A high-ranking official in the Roman Catholic Church
The cardinal visited our city last month.
Maroon
To leave someone trapped and isolated
He was marooned on a deserted island for weeks.
Cardinal
Relating to the hinge joint of the body
The cardinal movements of the head are crucial to understand.
Maroon
A person who is stranded (often due to shipwreck)
The maroons built a makeshift shelter.
Cardinal
Of foremost importance; paramount
A cardinal rule.
Cardinal sins.
Maroon
A dark reddish-brown color
The curtains had a rich maroon hue.
Cardinal
Dark to deep or vivid red.
Maroon
A type of explosive firework
The maroon erupted with a loud bang during the celebration.
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
Descendants of runaway slaves in the Americas
The maroons have a rich cultural heritage.
Cardinal
A dark to deep or vivid red.
Maroon
To put ashore on a deserted island or coast and intentionally abandon.
Cardinal
A North American bird (Cardinalis cardinalis) having a crested head, a short thick bill, and bright red plumage in the male.
Maroon
To abandon or isolate with little hope of ready rescue or escape
The travelers were marooned by the blizzard.
Cardinal
A short hooded cloak, originally of scarlet cloth, worn by women in the 1700s.
Maroon
A fugitive black slave in the West Indies in the 1600s and 1700s.
Cardinal
A cardinal number.
Maroon
A descendant of such a slave.
Cardinal
Of fundamental importance; crucial, pivotal.
A cardinal rule
Maroon
A person who is marooned, as on an island.
Cardinal
(nautical) Of or relating to the cardinal directions (north, south, east and west).
A cardinal mark
Maroon
A dark reddish brown to dark purplish red.
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
An escaped negro of the Caribbean and the Americas or a descendant of such a person.
Cardinal
Having a bright red color (from the color of a Catholic cardinal's cassock).
Maroon
A castaway; a person who has been marooned.
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
A rich dark red, somewhat brownish, color.
Cardinal
Any of a genus of songbirds of the finch family, Cardinalis.
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
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
An idiot; a fool.
Cardinal
(color) A deep red color, somewhat less vivid than scarlet, the traditional colour of a Catholic cardinal's cassock. cardinal red}}
Maroon
Associated with Maroon culture, communities or peoples.
Cardinal
(math) dot=, a number indicating quantity, or the size of a set (e.g., 0, 1, 2, 3). Cardinal_number.}}
Maroon
Of a maroon color
Cardinal
(grammar) dot=, a word used to represent a cardinal number.
Maroon
To abandon in a remote, desolate place, as on a desert island.
Cardinal
(Lobelia cardinalis), a flowering plant.
Maroon
In the West Indies and Guiana, a fugitive slave, or a free negro, living in the mountains.
Cardinal
(Paracheirodon axelrodi), a freshwater fish.
Maroon
A brownish or dull red of any description, esp. of a scarlet cast rather than approaching crimson or purple.
Cardinal
A woman's short cloak with a hood, originally made of scarlet cloth.
Maroon
An explosive shell. See Marron, 3.
Cardinal
(obsolete) Mulled red wine.
Maroon
To put (a person) ashore on a desolate island or coast and leave him to his fate.
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
Having the color called maroon. See 4th Maroon.
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
A person who is stranded (as on an island);
When the tide came in I was a maroon out there
Cardinal
A woman's short cloak with a hood.
Where's your cardinal! Make haste.
Maroon
A dark purplish red to dark brownish red
Cardinal
Mulled red wine.
Maroon
An exploding firework used as a warning signal
Cardinal
The cardinal bird, also called the northern cardinal.
Maroon
Leave stranded or isolated withe little hope og rescue;
The travellers were marooned
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
Leave stranded on a desert island without resources;
The mutinous sailors were marooned on an island
Cardinal
The number of elements in a mathematical set; denotes a quantity but not the order
Maroon
Dark brownish to purplish red
Cardinal
A variable color averaging a vivid red
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
Cardinal
A vivid red color
Her dress was a striking cardinal shade.
Cardinal
Of prime importance; fundamental
Respect is a cardinal rule in our household.
Cardinal
A North American bird, typically red
A beautiful cardinal perched on the windowsill.
FAQs
What does it mean to maroon someone?
To maroon means to leave someone trapped and isolated, often in a remote place.
What rank does a cardinal hold in the church?
A cardinal is a high-ranking official in the Roman Catholic Church, second only to the Pope.
Is a cardinal a bird too?
Yes, a cardinal is also a North American bird, typically red in color.
What color is cardinal?
Cardinal is a bright, vivid red.
Is maroon a natural or man-made color?
While maroon can be produced artificially, it's also a natural color seen in various elements of nature.
How do cardinals get their position in the church?
Cardinals are appointed by the Pope.
Is maroon a shade of red or brown?
Maroon is a dark reddish-brown.
Can maroon be used as a verb?
Yes, "to maroon" means to strand or abandon someone.
Is maroon always associated with negative connotations like stranding?
No, while it can mean stranding, it's also appreciated as a rich color and has historical significance.
What are cardinal rules?
Cardinal rules are fundamental or primary rules or principles.
What's the origin of the word maroon in the context of stranding?
It comes from the Spanish "cimarrón", meaning "wild" or "untamed".
Is the color cardinal associated with any specific institutions?
Yes, several universities and organizations use cardinal as their official color.
Does the Catholic Church have an official shade for cardinal?
While "cardinal red" is associated with the Church, there isn't an exact shade that's universally accepted.
Are the color meanings of cardinal and maroon recent?
No, both have been used to describe colors for centuries.
How is maroon created in art or design?
It's often a mix of red and brown, sometimes with a touch of blue.
Can cardinal also refer to directions?
Yes, "cardinal directions" refer to the four main compass points: north, south, east, and west.
What's the difference between cardinal red and crimson?
While both are shades of red, cardinal is usually brighter, while crimson has a slightly bluish tint.
Can the term maroon refer to communities in history?
Yes, maroons also refer to descendants of runaway slaves in the Americas.
Are there any birds named maroon?
Not specifically named "maroon", but some birds may have maroon-colored plumage.
Is maroon popular in fashion?
Yes, maroon is often used in clothing, especially in fall and winter collections.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.
