sienna

noun

si·​en·​na sē-ˈe-nə How to pronounce sienna (audio)
plural siennas
1
: an earthy substance containing oxides of iron and usually of manganese that is brownish yellow when raw and orange red or reddish brown when burnt and is used as a pigment
2
or less commonly siena, plural sienas : a strong reddish-brown

Examples of sienna in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
On a recent afternoon, fluffy clouds drift past the sun, throwing light, then shadow, across distant cliffs layered in yellow, ochre and sienna. John Burnett, NPR, 14 Mar. 2026 Topping off her look, the British royal added the vintage coat, which was designed with an ornate pattern and shades of brown and burnt sienna. Julia Teti, Footwear News, 3 Feb. 2026 Womanly figures in flowy sienna and white robes stand in a vast ornate chamber with a vaguely alien cityscape in the background. WIRED, 20 Jan. 2023 The wall tile delivers a glossy sienna hue while the primary bedroom reads almost salmon in tone. Regina Cole, BostonGlobe.com, 11 Jan. 2023 Prince was wearing a loose-fitting top in a heathered sienna, with matching pants, a green vest, and a pair of beaded necklaces. Dan Piepenbring, The New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2019 Think scarlet, peach, pink, amber, sienna, and gold versus cooler teal, eggplant, emerald, aqua, and cobalt. Caroline Picard, Good Housekeeping, 25 July 2019

Word History

Etymology

Italian terra di Siena, literally, Siena earth, from Siena, Italy

First Known Use

1787, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sienna was in 1787

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sienna.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sienna. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

sienna

noun
si·​en·​na sē-ˈen-ə How to pronounce sienna (audio)
: an artist's pigment that is either brownish yellow or reddish brown
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