What does chequered mean?
"Chequered" is an adjective with two closely related uses. In its literal sense it describes something patterned with alternating squares of two contrasting colours, most familiarly a chessboard or a picnic blanket: a chequered tablecloth, a chequered flag waved to end a motor race. More figuratively — and more frequently in writing — it describes a history, career, or record marked by striking contrasts between success and failure, prosperity and misfortune: a politician with a chequered past has experienced both triumph and disgrace. The figurative sense is neutral rather than damning, though journalists often deploy it with a hint of intrigue, suggesting that a person's history includes episodes they would rather not discuss. The spelling "chequered" is standard British usage; American English writes "checkered." The word ultimately derives from "chequer," a variant of "checker," whose own story leads back through Old French to the Persian word "shah," meaning king — the same root that gives us "checkmate" and "chess" themselves.
Marked with a pattern of alternating squares of two different colours.
"She folded the blue-and-white chequered tablecloth after lunch."
Chiefly used attributively before a noun.
(Of a history, career, or record) characterized by both favourable and unfavourable events; having mixed fortunes.
"The company has had a chequered financial history over the past decade."
Almost always used attributively with nouns such as 'past', 'history', 'career', or 'record'.
The word 'chequered' traces back to the Persian word for king — because the pattern on a chessboard was once called after the game itself, which entered Europe through Arabic as 'al-shāh', the king.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of chequered
"Chequered" comes from "chequer," a British spelling of "checker," meaning a pattern of squares. "Checker" derives from Old French "escheres" or "eschecquier" relating to the chessboard, ultimately from the Persian "shah" (king), which passed through Arabic into medieval European languages as the name of the game of chess. The same root produced "checkmate," "exchequer," and "chess" itself, making "chequered" part of a family of words that all descend from the ancient Persian word for king.
Related word forms
How chequered is actually used
The spelling 'chequered' is standard in British English; American English uses 'checkered'. The figurative sense ('a chequered past') is very common in journalism and biography and carries no strong negative connotation — it simply implies ups and downs, though it often hints at some disreputable episode.
Easily confused with chequered
'Checked' means verified or examined for correctness, while 'chequered' describes an alternating-square pattern or a varied, up-and-down history.