swatch

noun

ˈswäch 

1

a

: a sample piece (as of fabric) or a collection of samples

b

: a characteristic specimen

2

: patch

3

: a small collection

4

: swath sense 2

Examples of swatch in a Sentence

She looked at fabric swatches to select material for the drapes.

Recent Examples on the Web

Instead of scrambling to find physical swatch cards or key sustainability certificates, teams and suppliers can share collections, mood boards, material specifications and other essential information directly within the platform. — Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 4 Nov. 2026

Test the color directly on your mouth rather than trusting a hand swatch, Vogue India’s makeup artist guide recommends. — Ashley Lynch, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2026

That internal reference point is often more useful than a swatch on the back of the hand. — Ashley Lynch, Kansas City Star, 3 Nov. 2026

Fisher collects paint swatches, cuts them up, and tosses them into a basket so people can draw one before heading out. — Angela Haupt, Time, 20 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1647, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for swatch

• boche
• botch
• brough
• crotch
• gotch
• notch
• rotch
• scotch
• watch
• butterscotch
• hopscotch
• stopwatch

Kids Definition

swatch

noun

ˈswäch 

1

: a sample piece (as of fabric) or a collection of samples

2

: patch entry 1 sense 3

swatches of hair