equipment

noun

equip·​ment i-ˈkwip-mənt 

1

a

: the set of articles or physical resources serving to equip a person or thing: such as

(1)

: the implements used in an operation or activity : apparatus

sports equipment

(2)

: all the fixed assets other than land and buildings of a business enterprise

(3)

: the rolling stock of a railway

b

: a piece of such equipment

2

a

: the equipping of a person or thing

b

: the state of being equipped

3

: mental or emotional traits or resources : endowment

Synonyms

• accoutrements
• accouterments
• apparatus
• gear
• hardware
• kit [chiefly British]
• material(s)
• matériel
• materiel
• outfit
• paraphernalia
• stuff
• tackle

Examples of equipment in a Sentence

The photographer came early to set up his equipment.

I'm looking for a hobby that doesn't require a lot of fancy equipment.

an expensive piece of medical equipment

Not enough funds were provided for the equipment of the troops.

Recent Examples on the Web

Those devices, combined with infrared video equipment set up to monitor the facility, will capture whether explosions at River Metals coincide with spikes in negative air quality. —The Enquirer, 3 Apr. 2024

Earlier, the industry vet had held various roles at broadcast equipment manufacturer Grass Valley. —Carolyn Giardina, Variety, 2 Apr. 2024

Another solar equipment maker, Sweden’s Midsummer AB, was awarded over €30 million for an initiative, known as Project DAWN, to build a factory that will produce a thin, lightweight solar panel for rooftops. —John Ainger, Fortune Europe, 2 Apr. 2024

Kyiv must maintain a sizeable army in order to keep fighting off the Kremlin—perhaps with universal conscription, modeled on the Israeli or Swiss variants—complete with a large and modern equipment base supplied by a robust defense industry. —Branislav L. Slantchev, Foreign Affairs, 1 Apr. 2024

Valid reasons for not spending the money could include the inability to hire a teacher, or the need to purchase equipment or provide training. —Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2024

The port handles more cars and farm equipment than any other U.S. facility. —TIME, 1 Apr. 2024

Pieces of furniture and medical equipment lay scattered on the grounds as patients get passed prescriptions through a smashed window pane. —Katharine Houreld, Washington Post, 1 Apr. 2024

Just upriver was a boat, loaded with equipment and fuel cannisters—a miner’s supply launch. —Jon Lee Anderson, The New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1651, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing equipment

• original equipment manufacturer
• re-equipment
• personal protective equipment
• personal protection equipment

Kids Definition

equipment

noun

equip·​ment i-ˈkwip-mənt 

1

a

: the act of equipping a person or thing

b

: the state of being equipped

2

: the articles serving to equip a person or thing

Legal Definition

equipment

noun

equip·​ment

: the implements used in an operation or activity

specifically, in the Uniform Commercial Code : goods that are not inventory, farm products, or consumer goods

Note: This definition, found in Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code, applies to other Code articles as well.