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

This year’s Masters gnome is the familiar old man with a long white beard, wearing a blue cardigan with a white shirt and tie, a white Masters bucket hat and blue-and -green plaid pants. —Steve Reed, Quartz, 13 Apr. 2024

Holland, 27, grinned in a gray sweatshirt and the Euphoria star, 27, laughed next to her man while wearing a red and black plaid top. —Esme Mazzeo, Peoplemag, 12 Apr. 2024

No Doubt's reunion Hey baby, hey baby, hey — break out your '90s plaid pants, spiky space buns, and ska dance moves at the main stage Saturday night. —Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 11 Apr. 2024

Springsteen, decked in a red plaid flannel shirt and dark jeans, was lauded by fans for his lively energy and physique. —Earl Hopkins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Mar. 2024

Remember when Bottega Veneta sent Kate Moss down the runway in that plaid button-up shirt last spring? —Alexis Bennett Parker, Vogue, 19 Mar. 2024

He was last seen wearing gray pants, a long-sleeve dark shirt, red and green dinosaur shoes and possibly carrying a red and white plaid blanket. —Dalia Faheid, CNN, 6 Mar. 2024

The Madame Web star had on black pants and a houndstooth plaid coat with tinted sunglasses, and opted for a simple black bucket bag. —Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 25 Mar. 2024

Use different sizes, scales, and types, such as florals with plaids or herringbone with ikats, and add a third, unexpected one as an accent, like an animal print or polka dots. —Sharon Greenthal, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Scottish Gaelic plaide

First Known Use

1512, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing plaid

• glen plaid
• buffalo plaid

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