pattern

The word “pattern” means a repeated design of shapes, colors, or lines, often decorative. In plain terms, a repeated design, a predictable sequence of events, or a template to copy from.

“Pattern” is pronounced PATN (/ˈpætɚn/ in IPA).

Here is “pattern” used in a sentence: “The wallpaper had a floral pattern in soft blues and greens.”

Words with a similar meaning to “pattern” include 3, 4, 5, model and categorize.

The opposite of “pattern” — its antonyms — is antipattern.

Depending on how it is used, “pattern” can be a noun and a verb.

The word “pattern” comes from Old French. From Middle English patron/paterne, from Old French patron — the same root as patron, but the two words split apart in meaning over time.

“Pattern” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

A design is any planned arrangement or drawing, unique or one-off. A pattern is specifically a design built from repeated, regular elements — the same shape, color, or line recurring across a surface. So a pattern is a kind of design, but one defined by repetition, like polka dots, stripes, or floral prints.

Familiar decorative patterns include stripes, checks, polka dots, chevrons or zigzags, floral prints, paisley, tartan or plaid, geometric shapes, and animal prints. They may be regular and precise or looser and more organic. Patterns appear across fabrics, wallpaper, tiles, and packaging, adding rhythm and visual interest to a surface.

A pattern is about repeated visual design — shapes or colors you see arranged across a surface. Texture is about how a surface feels or appears to feel, such as rough, smooth, or bumpy. A patterned fabric shows a repeating print; a textured fabric has a tactile quality. A surface can have both at once.