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

Small-scale stripe, check and plaid apply to shirting fabrics and activewear. — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 28 July 2026

Joanna Gaines' Magnolia has newness easing into fall, including antique gold accent decor, brown plaid pillows and green plaid quilts, floral serving bowls and pitchers, block print napkin sets, stoneware brie bakers and more. — ABC News, 22 July 2026

William and George were style twins across the decades, as both wore a red plaid shirt in their early years. — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 22 July 2026

Always pack something versatile that can be styled multiple ways, like this gingham plaid set. — Hayley Domin, Travel + Leisure, 12 July 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