chevron
Americannoun
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chevrons
plural
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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.
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an ornament in this form, as on a molding.
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Also called chevron weave. herringbone.
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Heraldry. an ordinary in the form of an inverted V .
noun
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military a badge or insignia consisting of one or more V-shaped stripes to indicate a noncommissioned rank or length of service
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heraldry an inverted V-shaped charge on a shield, one of the earliest ordinaries found in English arms
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(usually plural) a pattern of horizontal black and white V-shapes on a road sign indicating a sharp bend
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any V-shaped pattern or device
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Also called: dancette. an ornamental moulding having a zigzag pattern
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
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.
Vocabulary lists containing chevron
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
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 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
The house has curved bay windows, tall windows, oak chevron floors and a slate roof.
From Washington Post ● Feb. 3, 2023
It appears in many of his works, including his famous chevron paintings from the 1960s.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 10, 2022
The men of the chevron and thistle, turning to him, saw the old King in the last minute of his glory.
From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White
He said it had to "drive in the middle of the road over the chevrons to hold the line" as a result of the speed it was travelling.
From BBC ● Oct. 25, 2024
She wears a pink necklace with three upward chevrons representing the three copies of the 21st chromosome as well as pink ankle foot orthotics, Mattel said.
From Reuters ● Apr. 25, 2023
His early paintings, emerging in the Pop Art era, often featured images of motorcycles, sergeant-stripe chevrons and hearts.
From New York Times ● Oct. 20, 2022
From one end of that black crossbar dangled five black, horizontal chevrons — imagine a flock of geese.
From Washington Post ● Sep. 28, 2022
The sea glides along far below, spattered with the countless chevrons of whitecaps.
From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
