Meaning & use
checkered
Last updated
Meanings
adjectivenot comparable
Having a pattern of squares in two or more colors, like a chessboard.
Grammar: Used before a noun: a checkered tablecloth.
Patterns
- checkered + noun
She wore a red and white checkered shirt.
The kitchen had a checkered floor.
He spread a checkered cloth on the picnic table.
adjectivenot comparable
Marked by periods of both success and failure; not consistently good or bad.
Grammar: Often used before nouns like 'history' or 'career'.
Patterns
- checkered history
- checkered career
- checkered past
The company has a checkered history of scandals and successes.
His checkered career includes several failed businesses.
The team's checkered performance frustrated the fans.
Common combinations
- checkered past
- He was reluctant to discuss his checkered past.
- checkered history
- The old hotel has a checkered history of owners.
- checkered tablecloth
- The Italian restaurant uses red checkered tablecloths.
- checkered flag
- The race ended with the waving of the checkered flag.
Synonyms and how they differ
- plaid
- Plaid refers specifically to a pattern of crossing lines and bands, often associated with Scottish tartans, while checkered usually means a simple grid of squares.
- varied
- Varied means simply consisting of different types; checkered adds the idea of alternating good and bad.
Opposites
Word family
- check noun
- A pattern of squares or a single square in such a pattern.
- checker noun
- One of the squares in a checkered pattern.
Commonly confused: checkered or checked?
checkered vs checked
Checked is the usual British spelling for the pattern meaning; checkered is more common in American English.
Practice
The politician's ______ record made it hard for voters to trust him.
Choose one answer.
The adjective 'checkered' fits because it describes a record with both good and bad parts. 'Checked' is a past tense verb or an adjective for a pattern, not for a record. 'Checking' is a present participle, and 'check' is a verb or noun.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “checkered”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.