: a light narrow boat that has both ends tapered to a point, is propelled by a double-bladed paddle, and often has a closed top except for an opening in which the paddler sits with the legs extended straight out in front:
a
: a traditional boat that is typically associated with the Indigenous peoples (such as the Aleuts and Inuits) of Alaska, Canada, and Greenland, is usually made of a frame of wood or bone covered with animal skin, and is used especially for hunting and transport
Similar stone pillars guided Inuit seafarers traveling by umiak or kayak along the complex coasts of their realm.—
Fred Bruemmer
Fred Bruemmer
b
: a boat that is based on the traditional kayak and is typically made of plastic or fiberglass and is used especially for recreational purposes
Today's recreationists likewise have discovered that, among paddle-powered boats, the kayak has no equal for its graceful combination of lightness, portability, seaworthiness and speed.—Peter Stark
Peter StarkExamples of kayak in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Moore and another kayaker were trying to paddle away from the danger when the jet ski struck the back of Moore’s kayak.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 June 2025
Start your day at Lake Norman State Park, and rent a canoe, paddleboard, kayak, or pedal boat; the boat ramp is free to use.
—Lydia Mansel, Southern Living, 7 June 2025
In addition to offering stunning river canyon views, the gorge is home to the highest concentration of waterfalls in the U.S. with ample opportunities to hike, bike, or even canoe or kayak.
—Mae Hamilton, Travel + Leisure, 6 June 2025
In Altamonte Springs, residents in the Spring Oaks neighborhood, tucked along a crook of the Little Wekiva River, have had to use canoes and kayaks to leave their homes after hurricanes Irma, Ian and Milton flooded their roads.
—Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 June 2025
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Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 June 2025
Start your day at Lake Norman State Park, and rent a canoe, paddleboard, kayak, or pedal boat; the boat ramp is free to use.
—Lydia Mansel, Southern Living, 7 June 2025
In addition to offering stunning river canyon views, the gorge is home to the highest concentration of waterfalls in the U.S. with ample opportunities to hike, bike, or even canoe or kayak.
—Mae Hamilton, Travel + Leisure, 6 June 2025
In Altamonte Springs, residents in the Spring Oaks neighborhood, tucked along a crook of the Little Wekiva River, have had to use canoes and kayaks to leave their homes after hurricanes Irma, Ian and Milton flooded their roads.
—Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for kayak
Cite this Entry
“Kayak.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kayak. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
kayak
noun
kay·ak
ˈkī-ˌak 
1
: a canoe used by various Indigenous peoples of northern North America, Greenland, and eastern Siberia and made of a frame covered with skins except for a small opening in the center
2
: a small canoe resembling a kayak
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