What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
rufous
Example
The rufous hummingbird has a beautiful reddish-brown plumage. [rufous: adjective]
Example
The fox's rufous coat blended in with the autumn leaves. [rufous: adjective]
russet
Example
She wore a beautiful russet dress to the party. [russet: adjective]
Example
The farmer harvested a basket of russet potatoes from the field. [russet: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Russet is more commonly used than rufous in everyday language. Russet is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while rufous is less common and refers to a specific shade of reddish-brown.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between rufous and russet?
Both rufous and russet are considered formal words and are appropriate for use in academic or professional writing.
