plaid

American  

[plad] / plæd /

noun

• plaids
  plural

1. 

   any fabric woven of differently colored yarns in a crossbarred pattern.

2. a pattern of this kind.

3. a long, rectangular piece of cloth, usually with such a pattern and worn across the left shoulder by Scottish Highlanders.

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adjective

1. having the pattern of a plaid.

plaid British  

/ plæd, pleɪd /

noun

1. a long piece of cloth of a tartan pattern, worn over the shoulder as part of Highland costume

2. 1. a crisscross weave or cloth

   2. ( as modifier )

      a plaid scarf

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• plaids
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of plaid

1505–15; < Scots Gaelic plaide blanket, plaid plaid ( def. 3 )

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Explanation

Plaid describes the crisscross pattern found on a Scottish kilt or a punk rocker’s pants. It can be a kind of cloth woven with the design, or a name for the design itself. Fashion-wise, it’s a bold but versatile pattern. Plaid is traditionally made from wool or flannel with a multi-colored tartan design — in other words, a pattern of vertical and horizontal bands of color. These days, every kind of clothing is available in plaid, from socks to skirts to scarves. In English-speaking countries other than the US, plaid is more likely to be called tartan, in fact. In Scotland, a plaid is actually a traditional blanket-like garment, and in Gaelic, plaide means "blanket."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

plaid plaids

For many, private school evokes images of elite academies, manicured campuses and plaid Catholic-school uniforms.

From Salon ● Jul. 27, 2026

The red, white and grey plaid shorts have become iconic in tennis circles, and the surviving pairs have found good homes.

From BBC ● May 25, 2026

Not long after, Gray, in a plaid mini, is also posing at the photographers’ request, switching effortlessly between signature Gen Z stances, chin resting atop a bent hand.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 13, 2026

Kiffin, wearing a plaid top that appeared stolen from the Brady Bunch wardrobe closet, softened the tone of his departing statement, now saying he respected Ole Miss’s decision to exclude him from playoff coaching.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 1, 2025

The kids wandered around, lost for ten minutes before they ran into a student in plaid flannel pajama bottoms and boots that looked like house slippers.

From "The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street" by Karina Yan Glaser

Ken Billington’s lighting and Constance Hoffman’s costumes, which featured swirling flared skirts in different candy-colored plaids for the female chorus, added to the effect, as did Ms. Zambello’s direction, which emphasized thrust rather than sweetness.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026

Newsboy caps, button-down vests and a predominance of subtle plaids recalled "Peaky Blinders", while pocket watch chains consolidated the 1920s feel.

From Barron's ● Feb. 26, 2026

Come for the messy, backstabbing celebrities, but stay for Alan Cumming's show-stopping plaids.

From Salon ● Jan. 19, 2025

It was wild; there were crazy prints — plaids, leopard spots — in my favorite colors.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 12, 2024

She was wearing an outfit of red plaids, lavender stripes, and aqua polka dots that she had matched herself.

From "The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street" by Karina Yan Glaser

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