carat

1 of 2

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 2

noun (2)

car·​at ˈker-ət 

ˈka-rət

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

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Champion also slipped on the Shooting Star necklace, which is set with 857 round brilliant diamonds of over 60 total carats and 140 baguette diamonds of over 9 total carats. —Melody Chiu, People.com, 1 Apr. 2025

Laid out like an orchestra in a quiet gallery room, 40 colorful gems have one of the planet’s most distinguished conductors: a red diamond, 2.33 of the rarest carats in the world, shining like a little bit of magic. —Kayla Randall, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 Mar. 2025

Fancy vivid blue diamonds of more than 10 carats are among the rarest gems in the world and Sotheby’s is set to offer one in its Geneva High Jewelry sale on May 13. —Anthony Demarco, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025

The 2 carat, elongated radiant natural diamond on a 14-karat yellow gold band was custom made at Lux Bond & Green in West Hartford, Connecticut. —Ashlyn Robinette, People.com, 22 Mar. 2025

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

First Known Use

Noun (2)

1555, 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