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

Swift paired her Gucci slingback platforms with an asymmetrical plaid and brown pleated mini skirt and polo from Thom Browne. —Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 8 Nov. 2025

Mina Self Oversized Plaid Blazer A plaid blazer is a fall classic that feels fresh without straying too far from timeless. —Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 8 Nov. 2025

For me, the holidays are all about timeless traditions – cozy plaids, greenery, and those nostalgic touches that make the season feel magical. —Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 7 Nov. 2025

The rise of this trend for the 2025 holiday season seems in line with this year’s general propensity for bringing back classic and retro themes for hosting and decorating, starting with winter fondue parties and landing us in a cozy plaid Christmas. —Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 6 Nov. 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