noun
khaki
KAH-kee
Khaki (noun) means a dull yellowish-brown colour, similar to dry dust or sand. Example: “The walls were painted a plain khaki.”
noun
1
A dull yellowish-brown colour, similar to dry dust or sand.
"The walls were painted a plain khaki."
2
A sturdy cotton or wool fabric, historically used for military uniforms, in this colour.
"His army-issue trousers were made of khaki."
adj
1
Having a dull yellowish-brown colour.
"He wore a khaki jacket over his T-shirt."
How to use khaki
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA dusty tan-brown colour, and the tough cotton fabric often dyed that shade for uniforms and casual trousers.
Common pairings
khaki trousers
khaki uniform
a shade of khaki
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Word forms
- Plural
- khakis, khakies
- Comparative
- more khaki
- Superlative
- most khaki
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The walls were painted a plain _____.
Etymology
Borrowed from Urdu/Hindi khaki, meaning "dusty" or "dust-coloured", ultimately from Persian khak ("dust"). The colour became linked with military uniforms after British troops adopted it for camouflage during colonial campaigns in the 1800s.
Class of 1800
khaki joined the language around 1800.
See the full Class of 1800 →
Rhymes for khaki
See all rhymes for khaki →Frequently asked questions
What does “khaki” mean?
The word “khaki” means a dull yellowish-brown colour, similar to dry dust or sand. In plain terms, a dusty tan-brown colour, and the tough cotton fabric often dyed that shade for uniforms and casual trousers.
How do you pronounce “khaki”?
“Khaki” is pronounced KAH-kee (/ˈkæ.ki/ in IPA).
How do you use “khaki” in a sentence?
Here is “khaki” used in a sentence: “The walls were painted a plain khaki.”
What part of speech is “khaki”?
Depending on how it is used, “khaki” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “khaki” come from?
The word “khaki” dates back to around 1800 and comes from Persian.
How many meanings does “khaki” have?
“Khaki” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a dull yellowish-brown colour, similar to dry dust or sand.
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