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

To tap into the farmhouse decor aesthetics, a mix of plaid and striped linen bedding paired with a patch-quilt blanket create an elevated look. —Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 9 Mar. 2026

Perfect for an understated holiday manicure, this design features a classic plaid pattern in deep and neutral tones. —Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 7 Mar. 2026

The man wore a light-colored baseball cap, an orange zip-up sweatshirt and blue/green plaid pajama pants when the encounter happened. —Rick Hurd, Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2026

Embellishments, the adventurous mix of patterns and textures is key; blending bold plaids, intricate florals, and abstract prints with rich fabrics like velvet, satin, and layered knits. —Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 24 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