karat

noun

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

Examples of karat in a Sentence

She was wearing an 18 karat gold bracelet.

Pure gold is 24 karats.

Recent Examples on the Web

The majority of these labels favor more classic designs, but relative newcomer Laopu — launched in 2016 — has disrupted the market, blending 24-karat gold and diamonds with silhouettes and patterns inspired by Chinese tradition. —Lucy Maguire, Vogue, 30 Oct. 2025

The latest Wicked Collection features around 30 fine jewelry pieces crafted in 14-karat gold and adorned with diamonds, emeralds, pink sapphires, amethysts and other natural gemstones. —Renan Botelho, Footwear News, 30 Oct. 2025

And every handle in his dressing room was either 14 karat gold or looked like it. —Marina Watts, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025

The first fine-jewelry collaboration with the historic German porcelain manufacturer, Nymphenburg, features their intricate Cumberland design and reimagines Aaron pieces in 18-karat yellow gold and porcelain, each painstakingly hand-painted. —Air Mail, 25 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English carrat — more at carat

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for karat

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

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