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.
The necklace took 1,800 hours of craftsmanship and features five diamond cuts—triangle, oval, round, baguette, and emerald—amid a technically challenging setting that blends 18-karat white gold and rose gold. — Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 29 Aug. 2026 Her engagement ring featured a 12-carat oval blue Ceylon sapphire surrounded by 14 solitaire diamonds and set in 18-karat white gold. — Giovana Gelhoren, InStyle, 14 Aug. 2026 Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook presented the president with a 24-karat-gold base to hold a glass sculpture. — Matt Viser, The Atlantic, 2 Aug. 2026 Then there’s the ring—old mine cut, somewhere between seven and 13 karats, depending on who’s guessing. — Jenny Hughes, The Spruce, 1 Aug. 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

Rhymes for karat

See All Rhymes for karat

Browse Nearby Words

Kara Su
karat
karatas
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Karat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/karat. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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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

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about karat

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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