plaid

noun

ˈplad 

1

: a rectangular length of tartan worn over the left shoulder as part of the Scottish national costume

2

a

: a twilled woolen fabric with a tartan pattern

b

: a fabric with a pattern of tartan or an imitation of tartan

3

a

: tartan sense 1

b

: a pattern of unevenly spaced repeated stripes crossing at right angles

plaid adjective

plaided

ˈpla-dəd 

adjective

Examples of plaid in a Sentence

She likes to wear plaids.

Recent Examples on the Web

If all those plaid skirts in Highland Park provided the inspiration, a thrift store on Rice Street provided the opportunity. —Molly Guthrey, Twin Cities, 22 Mar. 2026

Plus, there’s a matching sleeveless plaid button-up top and midi skirt. —Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 15 Mar. 2026

Featuring a timeless plaid pattern, preppy collar, and standout puff sleeves with feminine ruffled cuffs, this blouse from Amazon is the upgrade your spring wardrobe needs. —Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 13 Mar. 2026

For a more grunge vibe, a patchwork plaid skirt was worn over relaxed jeans, cinched with a studded bel. —Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 11 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Scottish Gaelic plaide

First Known Use

1512, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing plaid

• buffalo plaid
• glen plaid

Rhymes for plaid

• ad
• add
• bad
• brad
• cad
• clad
• dad
• fad
• gad
• glad
• grad
• had

Kids Definition

plaid

noun

ˈplad 

1

: a rectangular length of tartan worn over the shoulder as part of the Scottish national costume

2

: a fabric with a tartan pattern

3

a

: tartan sense 1

b

: a pattern of unevenly spaced repeated stripes crossing at right angles

plaid adjective