: 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
Book a kayak or paddleboard tour with Outer Banks Kayak Adventures for a morning or moonlight paddle through the marshes of the Roanoke Sound and Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
—Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 19 Apr. 2026
Ships have kayaks, hiking poles, binoculars, and other gear to get you into action mode.
—Allison Tibaldi, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2026
The Conservancy's long-term vision is to expand the wetlands from a single platform into much larger installations, possibly transforming the Broad Canal into a park, a boardwalk, and even a kayak trail.
—Jacob Wycoff, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026
Most hunters are not going to go through the trouble of jumping in a kayak or canoe to access this piece of land.
—Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for kayak
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Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 19 Apr. 2026
Ships have kayaks, hiking poles, binoculars, and other gear to get you into action mode.
—Allison Tibaldi, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2026
The Conservancy's long-term vision is to expand the wetlands from a single platform into much larger installations, possibly transforming the Broad Canal into a park, a boardwalk, and even a kayak trail.
—Jacob Wycoff, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026
Most hunters are not going to go through the trouble of jumping in a kayak or canoe to access this piece of land.
—Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for kayak
Cite this Entry
“Kayak.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kayak. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
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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