Maroon vs. Brown — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Urooj Arif — Updated on March 11, 2024
Maroon is a deep, rich reddish-brown color, symbolizing sophistication and intensity, while brown is a more general, earthy color representing stability and reliability.
Difference Between Maroon and Brown
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Maroon is a specific shade that conveys depth and luxury, characterized by its deep red and purple undertones, making it distinct and often associated with formality and elegance. Brown, on the other hand, encompasses a wide range of shades from light beige to dark chocolate, representing a more versatile and grounded feel. This broad spectrum makes brown a common color in nature and a popular choice for a natural and comforting ambiance.
While maroon is created by adding brown to red, giving it a darker, more intense appearance, brown is a composite color made by combining red, black, and yellow or by lowering the brightness of pure red or pure orange. This difference in composition results in maroon having a more pronounced redness compared to the more subdued, neutral tones of brown.
In fashion and design, maroon is often used to make bold statements or add depth to a palette, whereas brown serves as a neutral background, supporting a wide range of colors. The richness of maroon makes it a popular choice for formal attire and luxurious interiors, while brown's earthy quality lends itself well to casual wear and cozy, rustic designs.
Maroon, with its red undertones, can evoke feelings of passion and vitality, whereas brown, with its grounding in nature, is more likely to invoke feelings of comfort and stability. This emotional difference makes maroon a go-to color for energizing a space or outfit, while brown is preferred for creating a sense of security and ease.
Comparison Chart
Color Family
Reddish-brown
Broad spectrum of earthy shades
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Undertones
Deep red and purple
Varies from light beige to dark chocolate
Symbolism
Sophistication, intensity
Stability, reliability
Usage in Design
Formal, luxurious settings
Versatile, natural ambiance
Emotional Effect
Evokes passion and vitality
Invokes comfort and stability
Compare with Definitions
Maroon
Can evoke feelings of passion.
The maroon accents in the office were designed to energize the space.
Brown
A composite color made by combining red, black, and yellow.
The brown leather sofa was the centerpiece of their living room.
Maroon
A deep, rich reddish-brown color.
The maroon curtains added a touch of elegance to the room.
Brown
Invokes feelings of comfort and stability.
The brown walls of the café created a cozy atmosphere.
Maroon
Often associated with sophistication and intensity.
The maroon dress she wore symbolized her bold personality.
Brown
Represents stability and reliability.
Brown uniforms are often used to convey a sense of dependability.
Maroon
Made by adding brown to red.
To achieve a maroon hue, she mixed red paint with a touch of brown.
Brown
Encompasses a wide range of shades.
She preferred light brown tones for her summer wardrobe.
Maroon
Popular for formal attire.
He chose a maroon tie for the gala to stand out.
Brown
Serves as a neutral, supporting color.
His brown belt was a versatile accessory, matching many outfits.
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".
Brown
Brown is a composite color. In the CMYK color model used in printing or painting, brown is made by combining red, black, and yellow, or red, yellow, and blue.
Maroon
Of a brownish-red colour
Ornate maroon and gold wallpaper
Brown
Of a colour produced by mixing red, yellow, and blue, as of dark wood or rich soil
She had warm brown eyes
An old brown coat
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.
Brown
Dark-skinned or suntanned
His face was brown from the sun
Maroon
Leave (someone) trapped and alone in an inaccessible place, especially an island
A novel about schoolboys marooned on a desert island
Brown
Brown colour or pigment
The brown of his eyes
The print is rich with velvety browns
A pair of boots in brown
Maroon
To put ashore on a deserted island or coast and intentionally abandon.
Brown
A brown thing, in particular the brown ball in snooker.
Maroon
To abandon or isolate with little hope of ready rescue or escape
The travelers were marooned by the blizzard.
Brown
A satyrid butterfly, which typically has brown wings with small eyespots.
Maroon
A fugitive black slave in the West Indies in the 1600s and 1700s.
Brown
Another term for coloured (sense 2 of the noun)
Maroon
A descendant of such a slave.
Brown
Make or become brown, typically by cooking
Grill the pizza until the cheese has browned
A skillet in which food has been browned
Maroon
A person who is marooned, as on an island.
Brown
Any of a group of colors between red and yellow in hue that are medium to low in lightness and low to moderate in saturation.
Maroon
A dark reddish brown to dark purplish red.
Brown
Of the color brown.
Maroon
An escaped negro of the Caribbean and the Americas or a descendant of such a person.
Brown
Having a brownish or dark skin color.
Maroon
A castaway; a person who has been marooned.
Brown
Often Offensive Of or being a person of nonwhite origin.
Maroon
A rich dark red, somewhat brownish, color.
Brown
Deeply suntanned.
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).
Brown
To make or become brown.
Maroon
An idiot; a fool.
Brown
To cook until brown.
Maroon
Associated with Maroon culture, communities or peoples.
Brown
A colour like that of chocolate or coffee.
The browns and greens in this painting give it a nice woodsy feel.
Maroon
Of a maroon color
Brown
One of the colour balls used in snooker, with a value of 4 points.
Maroon
To abandon in a remote, desolate place, as on a desert island.
Brown
(uncountable) Black tar heroin.
Maroon
In the West Indies and Guiana, a fugitive slave, or a free negro, living in the mountains.
Brown
A copper coin.
Maroon
A brownish or dull red of any description, esp. of a scarlet cast rather than approaching crimson or purple.
Brown
A brown horse or other animal.
Maroon
An explosive shell. See Marron, 3.
Brown
A person of Latino, Middle Eastern or South Asian descent; a brown-skinned person; someone of mulatto or biracial appearance.
Maroon
To put (a person) ashore on a desolate island or coast and leave him to his fate.
Brown
(entomology) Any of various nymphalid butterflies of subfamily Satyrinae (formerly the family Satyridae).
Maroon
Having the color called maroon. See 4th Maroon.
Brown
(entomology) Any of certain species of nymphalid butterflies of subfamily Satyrinae, such as those of the genera Heteronympha and Melanitis.
Maroon
A person who is stranded (as on an island);
When the tide came in I was a maroon out there
Brown
(informal) A brown trout (Salmo trutta).
Maroon
A dark purplish red to dark brownish red
Brown
A mass of birds or animals that may be indiscriminately fired at.
Maroon
An exploding firework used as a warning signal
Brown
Having a brown colour.
Maroon
Leave stranded or isolated withe little hope og rescue;
The travellers were marooned
Brown
(obsolete) Gloomy.
Maroon
Leave stranded on a desert island without resources;
The mutinous sailors were marooned on an island
Brown
(sometimes capitalized) Of or relating to any of various ethnic groups having dark pigmentation of the skin.
Maroon
Dark brownish to purplish red
Brown
(US) Latino
Brown
(of Asians) South Asian
Brown
(of East Asians) Southeast Asian
Brown
(intransitive) To become brown.
Fry the onions until they brown.
Brown
To cook something until it becomes brown.
Brown
To tan.
Light-skinned people tend to brown when exposed to the sun.
Brown
(transitive) To make brown or dusky.
Brown
(transitive) To give a bright brown colour to, as to gun barrels, by forming a thin coating of oxide on their surface.
Brown
To turn progressively more Hispanic or Latino, in the context of the population of a geographic region.
The browning of America
Brown
Of a dark color, of various shades between black and red or yellow.
Cheeks brown as the oak leaves.
Brown
A dark color inclining to red or yellow, resulting from the mixture of red and black, or of red, black, and yellow; a tawny, dusky hue.
Brown
To make brown or dusky.
A trembling twilight o'er welkin moves,Browns the dim void and darkens deep the groves.
Brown
To make brown by scorching slightly; as, to brown meat or flour.
Brown
To give a bright brown color to, as to gun barrels, by forming a thin coat of oxide on their surface.
Brown
To become brown.
Brown
An orange of low brightness and saturation
Brown
Scottish botanist who first observed the movement of small particles in fluids now known a Brownian motion (1773-1858)
Brown
Abolitionist who was hanged after leading an unsuccessful raid at Harper's Ferry, Virginia (1800-1858)
Brown
A university in Rhode Island
Brown
Fry in a pan until it changes color;
Brown the meat in the pan
Brown
Of a color similar to that of wood or earth
Common Curiosities
What does wearing maroon say about a person?
Wearing maroon can indicate a person’s desire for elegance, depth, and a touch of intensity.
Is brown a good color for a living room?
Yes, brown's earthy and comforting qualities make it an excellent choice for creating a cozy and stable ambiance in a living room.
How do you make maroon color?
Maroon is made by adding brown to red, creating a darker and more intense shade.
What is the psychological impact of brown in interior design?
Brown can create a sense of security and warmth, making it psychologically comforting in interior design.
Can maroon and brown be used interchangeably in design?
Due to their different emotional impacts and symbolism, maroon and brown serve distinct purposes and are not generally interchangeable in design.
What emotions does the color brown evoke?
Brown often evokes feelings of comfort, stability, and reliability.
Can both maroon and brown be considered neutral colors?
While brown is widely considered a neutral color, maroon, due to its deep red undertones, is less universally seen as neutral.
What is the main difference between maroon and brown?
Maroon is a deep reddish-brown, conveying sophistication, while brown is a more versatile, earthy color symbolizing stability.
Why might designers choose maroon over brown for a branding color?
Designers might choose maroon for its association with sophistication and luxury, especially for brands aiming to convey exclusivity.
Does maroon match with brown?
Yes, maroon can complement brown well, especially in settings where a rich, warm palette is desired.
Why is maroon associated with luxury?
Maroon's deep, rich tone suggests sophistication and intensity, qualities often linked with luxury.
How does lighting affect the appearance of maroon and brown?
Lighting can enhance the depth and richness of maroon and the earthy tones of brown, altering their appearance and impact in a space.
Can maroon be a color of empowerment?
Yes, the intensity of maroon can evoke feelings of power and passion, making it a color of empowerment.
What settings are ideal for the use of maroon?
Maroon works well in formal settings and luxurious designs, where its depth can be fully appreciated.
Is brown suitable for all seasons in fashion?
Yes, the versatility of brown makes it suitable for fashion across all seasons, with shades varying from light for summer to dark for winter.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
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.
