karat

noun

kar·​at ˈker-ət How to pronounce karat (audio)
ˈka-rət
variants or carat
: a unit of fineness for gold equal to 1/24 part of pure gold in an alloy

Examples of karat in a Sentence

She was wearing an 18 karat gold bracelet. Pure gold is 24 karats.
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.
On a rebuilding team, coming off a 119-loss season, Karros is intent on being part of the turnaround by playing 24-karat defense at the hot corner and becoming an offensive force — starting this season. Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 21 Feb. 2026 Her fine jewelry line’s latest collection played with rare natural woods such as thuya from Morocco, South American snakewood, or white oak hailing from Thailand, paired with 18-karat gold and diamonds. Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 20 Feb. 2026 Fontaine created 14-karat grills for Jordan. Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 18 Feb. 2026 Don't miss the Art Deco lobby, with its 24-karat gold-leaf ceiling murals and famous starburst bas relief. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for karat

Word History

Etymology

Middle English carrat — more at carat

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of karat was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Karat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/karat. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

karat

noun
kar·​at
variants or carat
ˈkar-ət
: a unit of fineness for gold equal to ¹⁄₂₄ part of pure gold in a blend with one or more other metals

More from Merriam-Webster on karat

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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