1
: a plaid textile design of Scottish origin consisting of stripes of varying width and color usually patterned to designate a distinctive clan
2
a
: a twilled woolen fabric with tartan design
b
: a fabric with tartan design
3
: a garment of tartan design
Examples of tartan in a Sentence
a kilt in the clan's tartan
Recent Examples on the Web
The exhibition chronicles the use of the classic tartan pattern in the high fashion creations of Vivienne Westwood and Alexander McQueen, along with Dior and Chanel, while also displaying artifacts such as the MacBean tartan brought to the moon on the Apollo 12 mission.
—
Ross Kenneth Urken, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Nov. 2023
The coffin was draped in the Royal Standard of Scotland and carried by members of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, who wore tartan kilts.
—Fintan O’Toole, Foreign Affairs, 21 Feb. 2023
The tartan upholstery on the couches in the lounge cars and the slightly frilly, chintzy decor make the communal areas feel a bit like gentlemen’s clubs of yore; the daintiness of the dining cars, like something out of a doll house kit or a film set — which is to say, 100 percent my jam.
—Chris Wallace, Travel + Leisure, 1 June 2024
The juxtaposition between its approachable tartan pattern and formal crystal material lends this Ralph Lauren flute versatility.
—Maria Conti, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for tartan 
Ross Kenneth Urken, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Nov. 2023
The coffin was draped in the Royal Standard of Scotland and carried by members of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, who wore tartan kilts.
—Fintan O’Toole, Foreign Affairs, 21 Feb. 2023
The tartan upholstery on the couches in the lounge cars and the slightly frilly, chintzy decor make the communal areas feel a bit like gentlemen’s clubs of yore; the daintiness of the dining cars, like something out of a doll house kit or a film set — which is to say, 100 percent my jam.
—Chris Wallace, Travel + Leisure, 1 June 2024
The juxtaposition between its approachable tartan pattern and formal crystal material lends this Ralph Lauren flute versatility.
—Maria Conti, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for tartan
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tartan.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near tartan
Cite this Entry
“Tartan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tartan. Accessed 17 Jun. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tartan
noun
tar·tan
ˈtärt-ᵊn 
1
: a plaid textile design of Scottish origin
2
: a fabric or garment with tartan design
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