Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

kaftan

American  
[kaf-tan, -tuhn, kaf-tan] / ˈkæf tæn, -tən, kæfˈtæn /

noun

  1. a variant of caftan.


kaftan British  
/ ˈkæftæn, -ˌtɑːn /

noun

  1. a long coatlike garment, usually worn with a belt and made of rich fabric, worn in the East

  2. an imitation of this, worn, esp by women, in the West, consisting of a loose dress with long wide sleeves

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of kaftan

C16: from Turkish qaftān

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.

Vogue credited him with bringing back men’s overalls in 2018 — the same year he raised eyebrows when he sported a breezy kaftan on vacation.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 15, 2023

Most men in northern Nigeria normally wear a kaftan, a loose-fitting gown that reaches the ankles with matching trousers.

From BBC • Jul. 24, 2021

“Polo has shifted from just the sports to a fashion statement,” said Mudrakat Alabi-Macfoy, wearing an airy white kaftan with a multi-colored floral necklace and head wrap at the Lagos Polo Club.

From Reuters • Mar. 25, 2019

Cardin admired the kaftan, and she suggested that they collaborate, and, in 1974, she produced an haute-couture collection for him.

From The New Yorker • Jun. 7, 2017

He wore a plain white kaftan with light blue embroidery around the neckline and hem.

From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray