zigzag

1 of 4

noun

zig·​zag ˈzig-ˌzag 

: one of a series of short sharp turns, angles, or alterations in a course

also : something having the form or character of such a series

a blouse with green zigzags

endured the zigzags of policy

—Richard Bernstein

zigzaggy

ˈzig-ˌza-gē 

adjective

zigzag

2 of 4

adverb

: in or by a zigzag path or course

zigzag

3 of 4

adjective

: having short sharp turns or angles

a zigzag trail

zigzag

4 of 4

verb

zigzagged; zigzagging

transitive verb

: to form into a zigzag or move along a zigzag course

intransitive verb

: to lie in, proceed along, or consist of a zigzag course

Synonyms

Verb

• weave
• duck

Examples of zigzag in a Sentence

Noun

The kids were running in circles and zigzags around the yard.

He's wearing a shirt with red zigzags on it.

Verb

We saw a motorcycle zigzagging on the highway.

The player with the ball zigzagged back and forth down the field.

A dirt road zigzags up the steep hill to our cabin.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The rose gold zigzag chain, pavé-set with diamonds cradles either an array of green tourmalines or rubellites. —Anthony Demarco, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025

The texture plays on cable knit without going full preppy, and the zigzag lends the fabric a nice drape. —Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 25 June 2025

Adjective

Any number of odd, zigzag examples can be used to make the case that legislative districts in Wisconsin are excessively gerrymandered. —Megan O’Matz, ProPublica, 17 Nov. 2023

Verb

Though a separate stairway makes a less spine-tingling zigzag down from the parking area, the abode, which is being marketed in the United States by Tracy Tutor at Compass, certainly isn’t for the faint of heart. —Tori Latham, Robb Report, 1 July 2025

The other, however, charged erratically through the tall green barley crops on another side of the field—zigzagging at top speed with an exuberance that left all sense of coordination behind. —Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French

First Known Use

Noun

1712, in the meaning defined above

Adverb

circa 1730, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1750, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1777, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Kids Definition

zigzag

1 of 4 noun

zig·​zag ˈzig-ˌzag 

: one of a series of short sharp turns, angles, or changes in a course

also : something having the form or appearance of such a series

zigzag

2 of 4 adverb

: in or by a zigzag path or course

zigzag

3 of 4 adjective

: having short sharp turns or angles

zigzag

4 of 4 verb

zigzagged; zigzagging

: to form, move along, or consist of a zigzag course