tartan

noun

tar·​tan ˈtär-tᵊn How to pronounce tartan (audio)
1
: a plaid textile design of Scottish origin consisting of stripes of varying width and color usually patterned to designate a distinctive clan
2
a
: a twilled woolen fabric with tartan design
b
: a fabric with tartan design
3
: a garment of tartan design

Examples of tartan in a Sentence

a kilt in the clan's tartan
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Then, the opening ceremony takes place at noon on Saturday and includes a parade of tartans. — Lesly Gregory, AJC.com, 1 June 2026 During the holiday season, the space feels especially cozy with a tartan runner and garland draped along the windows. — Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 2 June 2026 Inside, British sensibility — green tartan rugs and seaside landscapes — meets Californian cool, all pale wooden walls and plush couches. — Violet Goldstone, Footwear News, 25 June 2026 Steyer was one of them, a hyper-energetic San Franciscan who wore tartan ties with a four-in-hand knot, committing to bundle a historic amount of money for Democrats who’d fight climate change. — David Weigel, semafor.com, 10 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for tartan

Word History

Etymology

perhaps from Middle French tiretaine linsey-woolsey

First Known Use

circa 1500, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of tartan was circa 1500

Rhymes for tartan

See All Rhymes for tartan

Browse Nearby Words

tartago
tartan
tartar
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tartan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tartan. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

tartan

noun
tar·​tan ˈtärt-ᵊn How to pronounce tartan (audio)
1
: a plaid textile design of Scottish origin
2
: a fabric or garment with tartan design

More from Merriam-Webster on tartan

Nglish: Translation of tartan for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tartan

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