checkerboard

noun

check·​er·​board ˈche-kər-ˌbȯrd 

1

: a board used in various games (such as checkers) with usually 64 squares in 2 alternating colors

2

: something that has a pattern or arrangement like a checkerboard

Examples of checkerboard in a Sentence

The fields formed a checkerboard of light and dark squares.

Recent Examples on the Web

From far away, this tight-block print looks almost like a checkerboard pattern. — Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 4 Aug. 2026

From the front porch, glass doors lead into a cozy reception area decked out with checkerboard-tile floors, warm tobacco-brown woodwork, and midcentury seating in shades of olive and blue. — Adam Erace, Travel + Leisure, 30 July 2026

As Colorado dries up in a historic drought, scofflaws violating water restrictions have sparked tension throughout the state’s largest metropolitan area, turning residential streets into checkerboards of virtue and vice. — Annie Gowen, Washington Post, 29 July 2026

Taupe Checkerboard Area Rug Simple yet eye-catching, a checkerboard rug is a fun way to layer more patterns into your space. — Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1775, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for checkerboard

• clavichord
• fiberboard
• fibreboard
• fingerboard
• harpsichord
• motherboard
• notochord
• overboard
• overlord
• paperboard
• plasterboard
• shuffleboard

Kids Definition

checkerboard

noun

check·​er·​board -ˌbō(ə)rd 

-ˌbȯ(ə)rd

: a board used in games and marked with 64 squares in two colors