pinstripe

noun

pin·​stripe ˈpin-ˌstrīp 

variants or less commonly pin-stripe or pin stripe

plural pinstripes also pin-stripes or pin stripes

1

: a very thin stripe especially on a fabric

… sporting a loose brown vest with tan and blue pinstripes …

—Donnell Alexander

—often used before another noun

pinstripe pants

a pin-stripe blazer

2

: clothing (especially a suit) with such stripes

—often used in plural

wore pinstripes to the office

pin-striped

ˈpin-ˌstrīpt 

adjective

or pinstriped

pin-striped pants

Examples of pinstripe in a Sentence

a dark suit with white pinstripes

a man dressed in pinstripes

Recent Examples on the Web

The home pinstripes have become more common in home spring training contests in recent years, compared to the same blue top with the interlocking NY. —Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2026

Meryl Streep channels Miranda Priestly in an all-business pinstripe suit out in New York City on April 16. —Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 21 Apr. 2026

There’s Richard Gere in Armani tailoring in American Gigolo, and Christian Bale’s Bruce Wayne famously wore Armani pinstripes. —José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 21 Apr. 2026

The dress is currently available in white and black, and chambray and blue pinstripe. —Destinee Scott, Travel + Leisure, 20 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1863, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for pinstripe

• bagpipe
• blowpipe
• standpipe
• stovepipe
• subtype
• tailpipe
• unripe
• windpipe
• allotype
• antitype
• archetype
• biotype

Kids Definition

pinstripe

noun

pin·​stripe ˈpin-ˌstrīp 

: a very thin stripe on a fabric

also : a suit with such stripes

pin-striped

-ˌstrīpt

adjective