caftan

noun

caf·​tan ˈkaf-(ˌ)tan How to pronounce caftan (audio)
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
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.
According to Brigitte, Caland’s personal archives contain 91 caftans, including 30 from the Nour collection and 29 work smocks that bear her handwriting in Arabic, French, and English. Grace Edquist, Vogue, 27 Aug. 2025 Groups of people in short curly red wigs, brightly colored caftans and bulky jewelry are coming through towns all over Michigan. Natalie Davies, Freep.com, 6 Aug. 2025 Get inspired by Stewart with similar breezy caftans on Amazon, starting at $20. Jamie Allison Sanders, People.com, 31 July 2025 Her own unofficial wardrobe consisted of leggings with an oversize, colorful caftan. Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 22 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for caftan

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1591, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of caftan was in 1591

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Caftan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/caftan. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on caftan

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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