noun
Uncommon
chevron
SHEHV-ruhn
Chevron (noun) means a V-shaped stripe or pattern, often used as a badge of military or police rank. Example: “The sergeant's uniform had three chevrons on the sleeve.”
noun
1
A V-shaped stripe or pattern, often used as a badge of military or police rank.
"The sergeant's uniform had three chevrons on the sleeve."
2
A V-shaped road marking used to show a safe following distance between vehicles.
"The motorway had chevrons painted on the tarmac to space cars out."
How to use chevron
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA V-shaped stripe or mark, seen on uniforms, road signs, and in patterned fabric or architecture.
Common pairings
chevron pattern
chevron stripes
sergeant's chevrons
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Word forms
- Plural
- chevrons
- Third person singular
- chevrons
- Past tense
- chevroned
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The sergeant's uniform had three _____ on the sleeve.
Etymology
From Old French chevron, meaning "rafter" — the V-shape was thought to resemble the sloped timbers of a roof, ultimately from Latin caper, "goat," likely because of the animal's angled horns.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “chevron” mean?
The word “chevron” means a V-shaped stripe or pattern, often used as a badge of military or police rank. In plain terms, a V-shaped stripe or mark, seen on uniforms, road signs, and in patterned fabric or architecture.
How do you pronounce “chevron”?
“Chevron” is pronounced SHEHV-ruhn (/ˈʃɛvɹɑn/ in IPA).
How do you use “chevron” in a sentence?
Here is “chevron” used in a sentence: “The sergeant's uniform had three chevrons on the sleeve.”
What is another word for “chevron”?
Words with a similar meaning to “chevron” include wicket.
What part of speech is “chevron”?
“Chevron” is a noun.
Where does the word “chevron” come from?
The word “chevron” comes from Latin. From Old French chevron, meaning "rafter" — the V-shape was thought to resemble the sloped timbers of a roof, ultimately from Latin caper, "goat," likely because of the animal's angled horns.
Is “chevron” a common word?
“Chevron” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “chevron” have?
“Chevron” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a V-shaped stripe or pattern, often used as a badge of military or police rank.
