chintz
Americannoun
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a printed cotton fabric, glazed or unglazed, used especially for draperies.
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a painted or stained calico from India.
noun
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a printed, patterned cotton fabric, with glazed finish
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a painted or stained Indian calico
Etymology
Origin of chintz
1605–15; earlier chints, plural of chint < Gujarati chī̃ṭ
Explanation
Chintz is a simple cotton material that's often used to make curtains or throw pillows. It's common for chintz to be printed with big, colorful flowers. Frequently used in upholstery and other home decor, chintz is a lightly glazed, many-colored fabric. Traditionally, chintz was made from calico, a type of printed cotton, and featured a light background with bright floral patterns. This style of decorating is now known generally as chintz, whether it's dishes or wallpaper that feature bright flowers. The derogatory adjective chintzy, or "cheap," comes from the perceived low quality of chintz. The word has a Sanskrit root meaning "bright."
Vocabulary lists containing chintz
Pygmalion
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Wonderful Words from the Wizard of Oz
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Bea and the New Deal Horse
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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.
From rich woven silks, patterned brocades and intricate chintz to a range of less talked-about textiles, India's contribution to the global textile industry is unique.
From BBC ● Mar. 29, 2025
“It’s a mix of traditional decor, like prints, chintz, real wood furniture and classical design elements with more modern,” she wrote.
From Washington Post ● Apr. 18, 2023
She followed the English country house tradition of slipcovering her upholstered furniture every summer — in cream and blue chintz in wide stripes, or in roses printed on pale linen.
From New York Times ● Mar. 31, 2023
Released the same year as Ritchie Valens’ version of “La Bamba,” this chintz speaks to a U.S. that once was fine with bilingualism in its chart-toppers.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 12, 2022
I can see through these houses, to what they used to be; I can see the colors that used to cover the walls, dusty rose, muddy green, mushroom, and the chintz curtains no longer there.
From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
