chevron

American  

[shev-ruhn, shev-ron] / ˈʃɛv rən, ˈʃɛvˌrɒn /

noun

1. a badge consisting of stripes meeting at an angle, worn on the sleeve by noncommissioned officers, police officers, etc., as an indication of rank, service, or the like.

2. an ornament in this form, as on a molding.

3. Also called chevron weave.  herringbone.

4. Heraldry. an ordinary in the form of an inverted V .

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chevron British  

/ ˈʃɛvrən /

noun

1. military a badge or insignia consisting of one or more V-shaped stripes to indicate a noncommissioned rank or length of service

2. heraldry an inverted V-shaped charge on a shield, one of the earliest ordinaries found in English arms

3. (usually plural) a pattern of horizontal black and white V-shapes on a road sign indicating a sharp bend

4. any V-shaped pattern or device

5. Also called: dancette.  an ornamental moulding having a zigzag pattern

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Other Word Forms

• chevroned adjective
• unchevroned adjective

Etymology

Origin of chevron

1300–50; Middle English cheveroun < Old French: rafter, chevron < Vulgar Latin *capriōn- (stem of *capriō ), derivative of Latin caper goat

Explanation

A chevron is a simple V-shaped design that may be upright, inverted, or on its side. Chevrons are part of some military and police uniforms or badges and often indicate rank. A chevron is a classic design element used in architecture, coats of arms, flags, and other insignia. This simple geometric shape appears on ancient pottery, petroglyphs, and textiles from ancient Greece and Rome. The chevron's clean, bold shape is a popular, eye-catching element of modern fashions as well, from suits to flooring and other home decor. More practically, chevrons on road signs can alert drivers to sharp and potentially dangerous curves ahead.

Example Sentences

Saint Laurent's models wore head-to-toe black leather, whilst Missoni's were clad in their signature chevron print designs, complete with statement necklaces.

From BBC • Dec. 27, 2025

The preparation of 35 bows was next; they were shaped and ironed one by one before they were sewn at the specified points along the chevron pattern created by the ribbons.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 11, 2024

The original Barbie doll didn’t even wear pink when it first debuted in 1959, wearing, instead, a black and white chevron bathing suit.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 7, 2023

His left hand grips a pair of tan leather gloves, and on that hand is a small signet ring with his family’s coat of arms: three willow leaves segmented by a black chevron.

From New York Times • Feb. 10, 2022

Finally a chevron of Impala jets left a smoke trail of the black, red, green, blue, white, and gold of the new South African flag.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela