twill

noun

ˈtwil How to pronounce twill (audio)
1
: a fabric with a twill weave
2
: a textile weave in which the filling threads pass over one and under two or more warp threads to give an appearance of diagonal lines

Examples of twill in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Metal feet help to keep it lifted off dirty airport floors, and the cotton twill lining is durable enough for everyday wear and tear. — Jacqueline Tempera, PEOPLE, 4 Aug. 2026 De Bonne Facture Traveler Cotton-Twill Suit Jacket A De Bonne Facture favorite season after season, its traveler jacket is made from a hearty cotton-twill and leans closer to a chore coat with a cropped length, boxier cut, and unvented back. — Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 3 Aug. 2026 In Solace, CottonWorks creates a sleek and minimalistic world that blends workplace uniforms and office attire with enhanced fabrics like cotton twill with UV absorber, Natural Stretch technology and water repellent Storm Cotton. — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 28 July 2026 Check out Italian leather bags, a chic summer dress, and twill work pants, from $35. — Essence Wiley, InStyle, 5 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for twill

Word History

Etymology

Middle English twyll, twylle, from Old English twilic having a double thread, partial translation of Latin bilic-, bilix, from bi- + licium thread

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of twill was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing twill

Rhymes for twill

See All Rhymes for twill

Browse Nearby Words

twilit
twill
twilled
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Twill.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/twill. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

twill

1 of 2 noun
ˈtwil
: a way of weaving cloth that produces a pattern of diagonal lines

twill

2 of 2 verb
: to make (cloth) with a twill weave

More from Merriam-Webster on twill

Nglish: Translation of twill for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about twill

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of zeugma

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Words of the Week - Aug. 14

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All