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 tartan jacket was a bit like a Harrington, which is a jacket that the mods used to wear.
—
Ellise Shafer, Variety, 11 May 2024
Alexander McQueen and Sarah Jessica Parker in Alexander McQueen, 2006
Evan Agostini—Getty Images
When actor Sarah Jessica Parker attended the 2006 Met Gala with fashion designer Alexander McQueen, the duo arrived in matching outfits made out of McQueen's family tartan.
—Cady Lang, TIME, 3 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for tartan 
Ellise Shafer, Variety, 11 May 2024
Alexander McQueen and Sarah Jessica Parker in Alexander McQueen, 2006
Evan Agostini—Getty Images
When actor Sarah Jessica Parker attended the 2006 Met Gala with fashion designer Alexander McQueen, the duo arrived in matching outfits made out of McQueen's family tartan.
—Cady Lang, TIME, 3 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for tartan
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tartan.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near tartan
Cite this Entry
“Tartan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tartan. Accessed 1 Jun. 2024.
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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