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

The 33-piece Gap x Malbon collection of men’s and women’s apparel features a custom PAR logo along with a play on Gap’s arch logo on a variety of fleece, knits and accessories in stripes, plaids and herringbone patterns. —Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 2 June 2025

Those in Benton House, which opened in 2022, have grass cloth wallpaper and subtle plaid and striped patterns throughout. —Sophie Friedman, AFAR Media, 29 May 2025

The suit’s jacket featured one side of gold and red plaid. —Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 5 May 2025

Choose from a wide range of solids and playful prints, including stripes, florals, spots, and plaid. —Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 7 June 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