stripe

¹ American  

[strahyp] / straɪp /

noun

1. a relatively long, narrow band of a different color, appearance, weave, material, or nature from the rest of a surface or thing.

   the stripes of a zebra.

2. a fabric or material containing such a band or bands.

3. a strip of braid, tape, or the like.

4. stripes,

   1. a number or combination of such strips, worn on a military, naval, or other uniform as a badge of rank, service, good conduct, combat wounds, etc.

   2. Informal. status or recognition as a result of one's efforts, experience, or achievements.

      She earned her stripes as a traveling sales representative and then moved up to district manager.

5. a strip, or long, narrow piece of anything.

   a stripe of beach.

6. a streak or layer of a different nature within a substance.

7. style, variety, sort, or kind.

   a man of quite a different stripe.

8. Also called magnetic stripe.  Movies. a strip of iron oxide layer on the edge of a film that is used for recording and reproducing a magnetic sound track.

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verb (used with object)

stripes, present (3rd person singular) striped, past participle, past striping present participle

1. to mark or furnish with a stripe or stripes.

stripe ² American  

[strahyp] / straɪp /

noun

1. a stroke with a whip, rod, etc., as in punishment.

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stripe ¹ British  

/ straɪp /

noun

1. a relatively long band of distinctive colour or texture that differs from the surrounding material or background

2. a fabric having such bands

3. a strip, band, or chevron of fabric worn on a military uniform, etc, esp one that indicates rank

4. kind; sort; type

   a man of a certain stripe

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verb

1. (tr) to mark with a stripe or stripes

stripe ² British  

/ straɪp /

noun

1. a stroke from a whip, rod, cane, etc

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• stripeless
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• striping
  present
• striped
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• stripe
  simple
• stripes
  simple
• have striped
  perfect
• has striped
  perfect
• am striping
  progressive
• are striping
  progressive
• is striping
  progressive
• have been striping
  perfect progressive
• has been striping
  perfect progressive

Past

• striped
  simple
• had striped
  perfect
• was striping
  progressive
• were striping
  progressive
• had been striping
  perfect progressive

Future

• will stripe
  simple
• will have striped
  perfect
• will be striping
  progressive
• will have been striping
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of stripe¹

First recorded in 1620–30; probably from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German strīpe; see also strip ², stripe ²

Origin of stripe²

First recorded in 1450–1500; late Middle English; obscurely akin to stripe ¹

Example Sentences

Once the Revolutionary War commenced, and for years after, America’s merchant marine fleet was targeted by pirates of every stripe.

From Barron's • Jun. 5, 2026

For travelers of nearly every stripe, that means turning to agents—also called advisers—who can dig up hidden nooks while snagging free upgrades, arranging local guides and ensuring seamless transfers.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 13, 2026

Males display a bold red and white stripe along their sides and have amber eyes, while females feature a simpler yellow stripe and orange-yellow eyes.

From Science Daily • Apr. 22, 2026

"One of the downsides of the navy blue stripe is that it does not stand out on the pitch, whereas this one is really distinctive."

From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026

Jumper was a dun mule with a narrow black stripe running along his backbone between his mane and tail.

From "Old Yeller" by Fred Gipson

Related Words

• ribbon