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.
To maximize your wear, skip gold vermeil and instead go for solid pieces made of sterling silver or 14-karat gold. Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 18 May 2026 It is set into an 18-karat white gold band and surrounded by pink and white diamonds. Leigh Anne Miller, ARTnews.com, 15 May 2026 Moore completed the ensemble with a stunning 18-karat white gold necklace set with more than 226 carats of diamonds from Chopard’s high jewelry collection. Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 12 May 2026 An arrest warrant said Marks sold a woman’s wedding ring with a half-karat diamond at a pawn shop for $300. Charlotte Observer, 6 May 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 20 May. 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

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