caftan

American  

[kaf-tan, kaf-tan] / ˈkæf tæn, kæfˈtæn /

Or kaftan

noun

1. a long garment having long sleeves and tied at the waist by a girdle, worn under a coat in the Middle East.

2. a long, full, usually collarless robe with wide sleeves that is worn at home for lounging or entertaining or at the beach as a cover-up.

---

caftan British  

/ -ˌtɑːn, ˈkæfˌtæn /

noun

1. a variant spelling of kaftan

---

Other Word Forms

• caftaned adjective

Etymology

Origin of caftan

First recorded in 1585–95; from Russian kaftán, from Turkish, from Persian qaftān

Explanation

A caftan is a loose, draped garment that's worn like a long tunic or a dress down to the ankles. Spending a day at the beach? You might want to bring a caftan to throw on over your bathing suit! Various groups of Middle Easterners have worn caftans (also spelled kaftan), going back as far as ancient Mesopotamia. A caftan's fabric depends on the climate — in warm countries, they're made of lightweight cotton or silk, while in cooler places, caftans might be made of wool, often worn as heavy coats over other clothing. During the mid-20th century, caftans became stylish in the U.S., and by the 1970s, they were associated with the hippie counterculture.

Example Sentences

In 2023 Chamlee sold a 1960s caftan that didn’t fit her—but turned out to be made by artist Pegge Hopper—for $600 on eBay.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 8, 2025

The natural next stop is caftan glam and “fun!” prints beloved by aunts who live for blended drinks.

From Salon • Jun. 7, 2025

We are lucky to have Justin Bontha — tailor to Rihanna and Madonna — on set to tweak a caftan that Cerezo crafted from polka dot fabric.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 11, 2025

To this end, I’d like to recommend two sun-splashed books for those of us who are not in the market for a straw visor or a colorful caftan.

From New York Times • Feb. 24, 2024

But in the morning Kosi laid out, on their bed, her blue lace long skirt, his blue Senegalese caftan, and in between, Buchi’s flouncy blue velvet dress.

From "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie