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

It’s designed with a smocked and ruffled neckline, adjustable spaghetti straps, and a tonal plaid pattern, and the hemline hits about two inches above my knees. —Jamie Allison Sanders, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025

One of the standout footwear styles presented by Dior was a mule with a dramatically oversized rosette embellishing the upper, coming in different colors including a pastel plaid. —Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 2025

Grab it in khaki (pictured) or any of its other fall-adjacent colors, including green, black, blue, caramel, or plaid. —Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Oct. 2025

This plaid shacket comes in various colors, including brown, blue, green, and white, meaning there’s likely a hue for you. —Anna Halkidis, Parents, 7 Oct. 2025

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