# chevron

/ˈʃɛvɹɑn/ (US) · /ʃˈɛvɹɒn/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/chevron
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

a pattern or shape that looks like the letter V. You often see it on road signs, military uniforms, or as a design on floors and walls.

For teachers: a V-shaped mark, pattern, or object, typically used in heraldry, on military uniforms to indicate rank, or as a decorative architectural motif.

## Examples

- The soldier wore a silver chevron on his sleeve.
- The road signs used bright yellow chevrons to warn drivers about the sharp curve ahead.
- The historic ballroom featured a stunning parquet floor laid in a chevron pattern, where the ends of the wooden planks were cut at an angle to meet perfectly in a continuous line.

## Pitfalls

- Not "a herringbone floor" but "a chevron floor" — In a chevron pattern, the wood ends are cut at an angle to form a straight line; in herringbone, rectangular planks overlap in a staggered zigzag.

## Usage notes

- Often used as a modifier before another noun, such as 'chevron pattern' or 'chevron stripes'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.