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.
More brands whose pieces previously started at 14 karats are shifting their offerings to include 10k solid gold pieces that balance maintaining the precious metal as a key selling point while offering a product at a more affordable price point. Andrea Bossi, Vogue, 18 Mar. 2026 The Akoya and Golden South Sea Cultured Pearl Skipping Rope Necklace is crafted of pearls, diamonds and 18-karat white gold and retails for $35,000. Laurie Brookins, HollywoodReporter, 16 Mar. 2026 One of the first watches to fly out the door, however, was an 18-karat white-gold Cartier. Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 13 Mar. 2026 The site also shows gram-sized 10- and 14-karat gold bullion sold by independent sellers. Liz Knueven, CNBC, 6 Mar. 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 21 Mar. 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

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