chevron

noun chev·ron \ ˈshev-rən \

|Updated on: 7 Jul 2018

Definition of chevron

: a figure, pattern, or object having the shape of a V or an inverted V: such as

a : a heraldic charge consisting of two diagonal stripes meeting at an angle usually with the point up

b : a sleeve badge that usually consists of one or more chevron-shaped stripes that indicates the wearer's rank and service (as in the armed forces)

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Recent Examples of chevron from the Web

Queen Letizia, a bonafide royal style icon, has sported a stunning wardrobe throughout her whole U.S. tour, including a polka dot dress at the San Antonio Museum of Art and a maroon chevron dress at the San José Mission.

— erica gonzales, Harper's BAZAAR, "Queen Letizia and King Felipe of Spain Meet the Trumps at the White House," 19 June 2018
The end result is a line of rugs that, true to its description, are more outlandish than your standard chevron patterned weave.

— liz stinson, Curbed, "Ikea has a fun line of statement rugs coming in 2019," 14 June 2018
Take a minimal console table and remix it to your liking with panels in blush tones etched in a chevron pattern, then continue on and swap out its knobs and pegs.

— lilah ramzi, Vogue, "5 Companies That Will Make Your Ikea Furniture Seem Custom-Made," 13 June 2018
Nigeria With bright green and black chevron-like squiggles, Nigeria’s home kit is certainly one that sticks out for the World Cup.

— kaitlyn schallhorn, Fox News, "World Cup teams debut colorful, throwback jerseys for the 2018 tournament," 13 June 2018
The away shirts are a screeching bright green, white and black with trippy jagged edging on a chevron pattern that may just be the World Cup's shining Rorschach moment, along with an ode to the country's style and pop culture energy.

— leanne italie, chicagotribune.com, "Nigeria's bright, trippy uniforms a hit among World Cup uniforms," 12 June 2018
The away shirts are a screeching bright green, white and black with trippy jagged edging on a chevron pattern that may just be the World Cup’s shining Rorschach moment, along with an ode to the country’s style and pop culture energy.

— Washington Post, "Nigeria’s bright, trippy uniforms a hit among World Cup unis," 12 June 2018
Her chevron head takes its shape from an iron mask Giacometti found at a flea market: an archetypical Surrealist translation of machine into flesh.

— jason farago, New York Times, "Giacometti: Beguiled by Thin Men and Women," 6 June 2018
There are three colorways of the sneaker, and all share the same chevron Flyknit pattern accented with bold color pops.

— jake woolf, GQ, "Your Acronym x Nike Air VaporMax Sneaker Buying Guide," 23 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'chevron.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

First appearing in English in the 14th century, chevron derives via Middle English and Anglo-French from the Vulgar Latin word caprio, meaning "rafter (probably due to its resemblance to two adjoining roof beams)." It is also related to the Latin noun caper, meaning "goat," again likely based on the resemblance of a V-shape to a goat’s horns. "Caper" is also an ancestor of "Capricorn," the tenth sign of the zodiac, represented by a goat. The resemblance of "chevron" to "chèvre," the French word for "goat" and our word for a kind of cheese that comes from goat’s milk, is no coincidence, as that word derives from "caper" as well.

Illustration of chevron

Origin and Etymology of chevron

Middle English cheveron, from Anglo-French, rafter, chevron, from Vulgar Latin *caprion-, *caprio rafter; akin to Latin caper goat

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First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined above

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CHEVRON Defined for English Language Learners

chevron

noun

Definition of chevron for English Language Learners

: a shape, pattern, or object in the form of a V or an upside-down V
: a piece of cloth that is shaped like a V and that is worn on the sleeve of a military or police uniform to show a person's rank