caftan

noun

caf·​tan ˈkaf-(ˌ)tan 

variants or less commonly kaftan

: a usually cotton or silk ankle-length garment with long sleeves that is common throughout the Middle East

Examples of caftan in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Dianna Singh, a longtime beauty editor — who is currently Allure’s features director — has found a breezy side hustle in her eponymous line of caftans, which soft-launched on the brand’s website Wednesday. —James Manso, Footwear News, 30 May 2025

For opening night of Good Night, and Good Luck at Winter Garden Theatre in New York City on April 3, Lopez stunned in a strapless black gown with a plunging neckline with a lightly colored caftan cape that flowed down to an elaborate train. —Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 19 Apr. 2025

At Monday evening’s 2025 Met Gala, the showstopper wore custom Valentino, a nod to the late Andre Leon Talley’s billowing caftans. —Ruth Etiesit Samuel, Essence, 5 May 2025

Why is this woman wearing a sheer caftan to her son’s wedding? JEAN SMART? —Emma Specter, Vogue, 2 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Russian & Turkish; Russian kaftan, from Turkish, from Persian qaftān

First Known Use

1591, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for caftan

• afghan
• bedpan
• began
• caveman
• chapin
• crankpin
• cyan
• deadpan
• dextran
• divan
• doorman
• fishman

Kids Definition

caftan

noun

caf·​tan

variants also kaftan

kaf-ˈtan,

ˈkaf-ˌtan

: an ankle-length garment with long sleeves that is common throughout the Middle East