What does caftan mean?
A caftan is a long, loose-fitting robe with wide sleeves, originating in the Middle East and North Africa and traditionally fastened with a sash or belt at the waist. Worn by men and women across Ottoman Turkey, Persia, Morocco, and beyond for centuries, it is prized for its comfort in hot climates and often made from sumptuous fabrics such as silk, velvet, or brocade, frequently elaborately embroidered. In modern English the word covers both the authentic traditional garment and the flowing dresses and cover-ups inspired by it that entered Western fashion, most visibly during the bohemian styles of the 1960s and 1970s. The spelling varies between "caftan" and "kaftan," reflecting its journey through multiple languages into English. Today the caftan suggests relaxed luxury and effortless elegance, appearing everywhere from beach resorts to haute couture runways.
nounA long, loose-fitting garment with wide sleeves, traditionally worn in the Middle East and North Africa, often belted at the waist. Also, by extension, a similar flowing robe or dress adopted as fashion wear.
- A long loose robe or tunic with wide sleeves worn in the Middle East and North Africa, typically belted
- A loose flowing dress or gown inspired by this traditional garment, worn as fashion
"She wore a silk caftan embroidered with gold thread to the evening reception."
"The bride's mother wore a richly embroidered caftan for the ceremony."
"Resort collections this season are full of breezy linen caftans."
Standard plural, used both for multiple garments and for the fashion category collectively (e.g. 'a rack of summer caftans').
"The boutique stocked caftans in every shade of jewel tone."
The caftan has swathed everyone from Ottoman sultans to 1960s hippies — a single garment spanning five centuries and two continents.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of caftan
The word "caftan" entered English in the late sixteenth century via Turkish and Persian, ultimately tracing back through Arabic qaftān. It spread widely across the Ottoman, Persian, and Arab worlds alongside the garment itself. The variant spelling "kaftan" reflects the same borrowing path and is equally accepted in modern English.
Related word forms
How caftan is actually used
The spellings "caftan" and "kaftan" are both standard and fully interchangeable; neither is considered more correct than the other. The word carries connotations of comfort and exotic elegance, especially when used of high-fashion adaptations. In American usage it sometimes appears in the phrase "caftan dress" for shorter, Westernized versions.
Easily confused with caftan
Kaftan is simply an alternative spelling of the same word, not a different garment.