stripe

stripe — noun

1. a long, narrow band on a surface whose colour or texture is different from the a

1.nounA2
Definition

a long, narrow band on a surface whose colour or texture is different from the area around it — for example, the lines on a zebra, the bands on a flag, or the pattern on a shirt.

Example

The curtains have thin white stripes on a pale blue background.

collocation: thin stripe / wide stripe

A tiger's stripes are different on each side of its body.

possessive: tiger's stripes

Common collocations
  • thin stripe
  • wide stripe
  • diagonal stripe
  • vertical stripe
  • horizontal stripe
  • pale stripe
  • dark stripe
  • coloured stripe
Synonyms
  • band

    wider and often wraps around something; less precise for fabric patterns

  • line

    the most general term; can be any thin mark, not necessarily decorative or contrasting

  • streak

    suggests an irregular or accidental mark, not a deliberate pattern

Grammar Patterns

stripe + of + colour

plural: stripes (on/in + garment/surface)

Usage Note

Often used with adjectives of width and colour (thin, wide, diagonal, vertical, horizontal, pale, bright). Common in descriptions of clothing, flags, animals, and interior design.

Common Mistakes

The zebra has black and white strips.
The zebra has black and white stripes.
'stripe' is a band of colour; 'strip' means a long narrow piece cut from something.

2. a cloth marking, often V-shaped, that is stitched to the upper arm of a soldier'

2.nounB1
Definition

a cloth marking, often V-shaped, that is stitched to the upper arm of a soldier's or officer's uniform and signals the person's rank or time in service.

Example

Talia pointed to the gold stripes on her father's police uniform.

collocation: stripes on + uniform

Andrew sewed a new stripe onto his sleeve after his promotion.

Common collocations
  • gold stripe
  • sleeve stripe
  • shoulder stripe
  • rank stripe
  • three stripes
  • earn a stripe
  • wear stripes
Synonyms
  • chevron

    a V-shaped stripe specifically; more technical than 'stripe'

  • insignia

    a broader term covering all badges and emblems of rank, not just stripes

  • badge

    a general term for a symbol worn on a uniform; not specific to sleeve markings

Grammar Patterns

number + stripe(s) + on + uniform/sleeve/shoulder

Usage Note

Primarily used in military and law-enforcement contexts. The number and shape of stripes indicate specific ranks. Also used figuratively in the idiom 'earn your stripes' (see idioms below).

Common Mistakes

He wore a red stripe tie to the ceremony.
He wore a red striped tie to the ceremony.
'stripe' is a noun; use 'striped' as the adjective for patterned fabric.

3. a particular type, kind, or category, especially of people, opinions, or organis

3.nounB2
Definition

a particular type, kind, or category, especially of people, opinions, or organisations — for example, politicians of different stripes or artists of all stripes.

Example

The festival attracted musicians of every stripe from around the country.

fixed phrase: of every stripe

People of all stripes came together to help after the earthquake.

fixed phrase: of all stripes

Common collocations
  • of all stripes
  • of every stripe
  • of a different stripe
  • political stripe
Synonyms
  • kind

    the neutral, everyday word; 'stripe' is more formal and literary

  • sort

    similar to 'kind'; slightly informal; 'stripe' is less common and more emphatic

  • type

    standard and widely used; 'stripe' adds a rhetorical or journalistic flavour

  • ilk

    formal and often mildly dismissive; 'stripe' is more neutral in tone

Grammar Patterns

of + adjective + stripe

of all stripes

of every stripe

Usage Note

Almost always appears in fixed phrases ('of all stripes', 'of every stripe', 'of a different stripe'). The noun itself is rarely used freely — it depends on the 'of ... stripe' frame. Often modifies groups of people by opinion, profession, or background.

Common Mistakes

I do not like that stripe of music.
I do not like that kind of music.
'stripe' in this sense is restricted to the fixed expression 'of + adjective + stripe'; it cannot replace 'kind' or 'type' freely.
Idioms

earn your stripes

idiom

to gain a position, reputation, or level of respect through hard work, experience, or achievement — originally from earning rank stripes in the military.

Théo earned his stripes as a journalist by reporting from dangerous war zones.

Ava earned her stripes in the company after turning the failing department around.

stripe — verb

Word family

  • striped
    adjectiveA2
  • stripy
    adjectiveB1
  • stripes
    noun (plural)A2
  • striping
    nounB2
  • striped
    verb (past participle)B1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Stripe, streak, band, line, and bar all refer to long, narrow marks, but they differ in regularity and context. A stripe is a deliberate, often decorative band of colour contrasting with the surrounding area — think of a striped shirt or a flag. A streak is irregular and often accidental: a streak of paint on a wall or a streak of grey in someone's hair. A band is broader and frequently wraps around an object — a rubber band, a band of light across the sky. Line is the most general term: any long, thin mark, whether straight or curved, drawn or natural. Bar is typically shorter and thicker, often used for light (a bar of sunlight) or for graphic design (a bar chart). For clothing and design patterns, 'stripe' is the standard choice: you would say 'a striped dress' but not 'a streaked dress'.

stripe ↗streak ↗band ↗linebar ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • tiger stripes
  • zebra stripes
  • uniform stripes
  • flag stripes

Adverbs

  • distinctly striped
  • boldly striped
  • thinly striped

Phrases

Prepositions

  • with stripes
  • in stripes
  • of stripes

Etymology

Middle DutchEnglish

The word 'stripe' entered English in the 1400s from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German 'strīpe', meaning a streak or line. The rank-insignia sense developed in the 1800s as military uniforms began using cloth stripes on sleeves to indicate rank and length of service. The figurative sense ('a type or kind') emerged in the early 1800s from the expression 'of a different stripe', originally comparing people to fabric patterns — just as stripes distinguished one cloth from another, they came to distinguish one character or opinion from another.