carat

1 of 3

noun (1)

car·​at

variant spelling of karat

: a unit of fineness for gold equal to 1/24 part of pure gold in an alloy

carat

2 of 3

noun (2)

car·​at ˈker-ət 

ˈka-rət

: a unit of weight for precious stones equal to 200 milligrams

karat

3 of 3

noun (3)

kar·​at ˈker-ət 

ˈka-rət

variants or carat

: a unit of fineness for gold equal to 1/24 part of pure gold in an alloy

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a carat and a karat?

These two words are tricky, as one of them may refer both to the measurement of a precious stone's weight and to the purity of gold, while the other only refers to the purity of gold. Carat may be used for both, but karat is only employed in reference to gold.

What is weighed in carats?

Precious stones are weighed in carats; a single carat is equal to 200 milligrams. Carat is also a variant spelling of karat, which measures the purity (but not the weight) of gold.

How much is a carat?

If carat is serving as a variant spelling of karat, then it is measuring the fineness, rather than the weight, of gold; each carat is equal to 1/24 part of pure gold. If carat is being used in reference to precious stones, it is a unit of weight equal to 200 milligrams.

Examples of carat in a Sentence

Noun (3)

She was wearing an 18 karat gold bracelet.

Pure gold is 24 karats.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

But earlier this year, the Navy reservist and his friend shoveled a six-carat diamond from a field in Arkansas where he's found over 300 gems so far. — Laura Turbay, ABC News, 2 Oct. 2026

Hailey Bieber and Zoë Kravitz, who sat front row for the Paris Fashion Week show, wore enough Jessica McCormack diamonds to clear 70 carats. — Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 30 Sep. 2026

Noun

Isaia cashmere scarf, $750; Dior silk tie, $300; Ferragamo calfskin oxfords, $1,590; Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Monoface Small Seconds in 18-karat pink gold, $27,000; Il Bisonte leather card case, $140; Stefano Ricci crocodile belt, $2,800. — Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 3 Oct. 2026

Prices range from a $75 slim chain necklace to a $4,495 charm necklace in 14-karat solid gold. — David Moin, Footwear News, 29 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (2)

Middle English carrat measure of fineness in gold, from Middle French carat measure of fineness in gold or of weight in gems, from Italian carato, from Arabic qīrāṭ bean pod, a small weight, from Greek keration carob bean, a small weight, from diminutive of kerat-, keras horn — more at horn

Noun (3)

Middle English carrat — more at carat

First Known Use

Noun (2)

1555, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for carat

• buret
• ferret
• garret
• karat
• merit
• parrot
• demerit
• inherit
• preterit
• disinherit

Kids Definition

carat

1 of 2

variant of karat

carat

2 of 2 noun

car·​at ˈkar-ət 

: a unit of weight for precious gems (as diamonds) equal to 200 milligrams