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.

---

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

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• plaids
  plural

Etymology

Origin of plaid

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

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

With tunic silhouettes, collars, ruffles, plaid and stripes, the pieces are a new playful summer uniform.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 3, 2026

The store’s front facade was wrapped in a giant plaid scarf made of 126,000 twinkling Christmas lights.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 27, 2026

"Tartan and plaid are having a moment," says fashion stylist and writer Alexandra Fullerton.

From BBC ● Jan. 31, 2026

“See the man in the green plaid pants? The one with the cane in the second row.”

From "The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman" by Gennifer Choldenko

The Velvet Gang’s aesthetic changes every sequence: preppy plaids, florals, raver neons and a swollen pink jumpsuit that makes Corvette look like a hyper-feminine Gumby.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 21, 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

There are also many things it isn’t: no bright green garlands, no mixing of plaids in the same room, and no gift bags under the tree.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 22, 2025

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

From Salon ● Jan. 19, 2025

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