Shapes & Symbols
chevron
Computer-generated voice, not a recording. It may differ from the pronunciation guide.
US pronunciation from Cambridge Dictionary; the UK also has /ˈʃev.rɒn/.
In short
A chevron is a V-shaped mark or pattern, such as the stripes on a sergeant's sleeve or the zigzag on a patterned fabric.
The V can point up, down or sideways, depending on where it is used.
01 Meaning
What does chevron mean?
You can find a chevron in several places:
- Rank insignia: military and police sleeve stripes that mark non-commissioned ranks.
- Heraldry: a wide V on a coat of arms, one of the basic geometric shapes used on shields.
- Patterns: architecture and design use the shape as a repeating decoration.
- Roads: in the UK, V-shaped road markings show a safe following distance between vehicles.
- Birds: a flock flying in a V is sometimes described as a chevron.
The shape is very old. Wikipedia notes V-shaped marks among Neolithic symbols from the sixth to fifth millennia BC.
02 Word origin
Where does it come from?
Chevron is French for "rafter". The mark was named for its resemblance to the rafters of a roof meeting at a peak. The French word traces back through Latin caper, "goat", and the goat link is thought to come from the animal's horns.
03 In context
How to use it in a sentence
“She sewed two chevrons onto the sleeve of her uniform.”
“A chevron of geese crossed the sky above the marsh.”
Sources and updates
- chevron, Cambridge Dictionary. Checked October 20, 2026.
- chevron - Origin and history, Online Etymology Dictionary. Checked October 20, 2026.
- chevron, Wiktionary. Checked October 19, 2026.
- Chevron (insignia), Wikipedia. Checked October 19, 2026.
Definitions and examples are written in our own words from the sources above. Published . Updated .