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
Conservative Burberry got sexy by putting its tartan pattern on bikinis.
—
Big Think, 14 Oct. 2025
Subtle details such as a a tartan lining or a matching top-stitch on the jeans can make the pieces feel even more unique from a wearer’s perspective, Gayot adds.
—Kristina Rutkowski, Vogue, 13 Oct. 2025
Swift opted for Miu Miu's $2,350 pleated tartan miniskirt and carried Dior's $3,450 Montaigne Avenue Top Handle Bag with gold hardware.
—Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 10 Oct. 2025
While staying at Balmoral Castle, located in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, the family often wears tartan pieces — Queen Camilla previously wore her Thursday ensemble to services at Balmoral in September.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tartan
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Big Think, 14 Oct. 2025
Subtle details such as a a tartan lining or a matching top-stitch on the jeans can make the pieces feel even more unique from a wearer’s perspective, Gayot adds.
—Kristina Rutkowski, Vogue, 13 Oct. 2025
Swift opted for Miu Miu's $2,350 pleated tartan miniskirt and carried Dior's $3,450 Montaigne Avenue Top Handle Bag with gold hardware.
—Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 10 Oct. 2025
While staying at Balmoral Castle, located in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, the family often wears tartan pieces — Queen Camilla previously wore her Thursday ensemble to services at Balmoral in September.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 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 17 Oct. 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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