Abstract: A new refined first-order shear-deformation plate theory of the Kármán type is presented for engineering applications and a new version of the generalized Kármán large deflection equations with deflection and stress functions as two unknown variables is formulated for nonlinear analysis of shear-deformable plates of composite material and construction, based on the Mindlin/Reissner theory. In this refined plate theory two rotations that are constrained out in the formulation are imposed upon overall displacements of the plates in an implicit role. Linear and nonlinear investigations may be made by the engineering theory to a class of shear-deformation plates such as moderately thick composite plates, orthotropic sandwich plates, densely stiffened plates, and laminated shear-deformable plates. Reduced forms of the generalized Kármán equations are derived consequently, which are found identical to those existe in the literature.