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
The result, as seen onstage, is a light show that begins with the dress in a red tartan pattern, transitions into a half-blue motif, and becomes entirely covered in vivid crimson sequins.
—
Renan Botelho, Footwear News, 29 Apr. 2025
Knowing tthe legendary Highland Games, a biannual event that celebrates Scottish and Celtic traditions, would be taking place across the region, Cumming goes there with his dog, Lala, and a designer friend from Inverness, one of the smallest cities in Scotland, who makes the dog a bespoke tartan.
—Irene S. Levine, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
They’re both particularly absorbed by identifying the name of the tartan of Hayley’s attacker’s scarf.
—Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 13 Feb. 2025
Wearing a burgundy tartan coat from Blaze Milano over a burgundy skirt by Edeline Lee and a matching turtleneck cashmere sweater by Kiltane, the look was accessorized with a burgundy top handle bag by Asprey.
—Monique Jessen, People.com, 20 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tartan
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Renan Botelho, Footwear News, 29 Apr. 2025
Knowing tthe legendary Highland Games, a biannual event that celebrates Scottish and Celtic traditions, would be taking place across the region, Cumming goes there with his dog, Lala, and a designer friend from Inverness, one of the smallest cities in Scotland, who makes the dog a bespoke tartan.
—Irene S. Levine, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
They’re both particularly absorbed by identifying the name of the tartan of Hayley’s attacker’s scarf.
—Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 13 Feb. 2025
Wearing a burgundy tartan coat from Blaze Milano over a burgundy skirt by Edeline Lee and a matching turtleneck cashmere sweater by Kiltane, the look was accessorized with a burgundy top handle bag by Asprey.
—Monique Jessen, People.com, 20 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tartan
Cite this Entry
“Tartan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tartan. Accessed 20 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tartan
noun
tar·tan
ˈtärt-ᵊn 
1
: a plaid textile design of Scottish origin
2
: a fabric or garment with tartan design
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