1
: a plaid textile design of Scottish origin consisting of stripes of varying width and color usually patterned to designate a distinctive clan
2
a
: a twilled woolen fabric with tartan design
b
: a fabric with tartan design
3
: a garment of tartan design
Examples of tartan in a Sentence
a kilt in the clan's tartan
Recent Examples on the Web
An array of design-forward designs were inspired by geometric motifs that reinterpreted tartan, and even the colorful complexity of the Centre Pompidou.
—
Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 22 Jan. 2026
Lucy MacDonald of Arra Textiles in rural Banchory blends heritage weaving techniques with digital design, and Annabel Stewart’s tartan pieces, custom-made in Glasgow, are inspired by Scotland’s landscapes.
—Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Jan. 2026
But David upped the ante with his tartan and his knees.
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 22 Jan. 2026
For her day of exploring Scottish heritage traditions on Tuesday, Kate wore a bespoke blue tartan coat by Chris Kerr, which What Kate Wore reported was crafted by fabric made by Johnstons of Elgin that Kerr reportedly worked on with the Princess of Wales herself.
—Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 21 Jan. 2026
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Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 22 Jan. 2026
Lucy MacDonald of Arra Textiles in rural Banchory blends heritage weaving techniques with digital design, and Annabel Stewart’s tartan pieces, custom-made in Glasgow, are inspired by Scotland’s landscapes.
—Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Jan. 2026
But David upped the ante with his tartan and his knees.
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 22 Jan. 2026
For her day of exploring Scottish heritage traditions on Tuesday, Kate wore a bespoke blue tartan coat by Chris Kerr, which What Kate Wore reported was crafted by fabric made by Johnstons of Elgin that Kerr reportedly worked on with the Princess of Wales herself.
—Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tartan
Cite this Entry
“Tartan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tartan. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tartan
noun
tar·tan
ˈtärt-ᵊn 
1
: a plaid textile design of Scottish origin
2
: a fabric or garment with tartan design
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