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

Tartan aligns with all those aesthetics and plaid is already proving to show its strength. —Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 9 Feb. 2026

This throw pillow has a windowpane plaid design that effortlessly blends in with farmhouse and cottagecore aesthetics. —Jacqueline Tempera, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Feb. 2026

Dressed in a plaid button up, the 41-year-old leans into a digital camera on a tripod, with a long telephoto lens pointed toward that plane, and slowly counts. —Kat Lonsdorf, NPR, 6 Feb. 2026

Designed with rustic wood accents, a cheery red and green color scheme, and plenty of plaid, the property would look equally at home among the Alps of southern Germany. —Sarah Kuta, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Feb. 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