kit
Kit (noun) means a set of equipment, tools, or personal items packed together for a particular purpose, such as a soldier's gear or a workman's tools. Example: “She packed her sewing kit before the trip.”
How to use kit
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA set of gear, tools, or parts put together for one job — or, informally, a baby animal.
In British English "kit" often just means clothes or sports uniform ("forgot my PE kit"), a usage that sounds unusual in American English.
Word forms
kitted past tense, kits plural, kits plural, kits plural, kits plural, kits singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She packed her sewing _____ before the trip.
Etymology
From a Middle Dutch word for a wooden vessel made of curved staves. The sense shifted over time from a container to whatever was carried inside it — first a soldier's pack, then any bundle of gear, and eventually a boxed set of parts to assemble.
Related words
Rhymes for kit
See all rhymes for kit →Frequently asked questions
What does “kit” mean?
The word “kit” means a set of equipment, tools, or personal items packed together for a particular purpose, such as a soldier's gear or a workman's tools. In plain terms, a set of gear, tools, or parts put together for one job — or, informally, a baby animal.
How do you pronounce “kit”?
“Kit” is pronounced KIHT (/ˈkɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “kit” in a sentence?
Here is “kit” used in a sentence: “She packed her sewing kit before the trip.”
What part of speech is “kit”?
Depending on how it is used, “kit” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “kit” come from?
The word “kit” comes from Dutch.
Is “kit” a common word?
“Kit” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “kit” have?
“Kit” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a set of equipment, tools, or personal items packed together for a particular purpose, such as a soldier's gear or a workman's tools.
What is the difference between a kit and a set?
A set is any group of matching or related items, like a chess set. A kit is more specific: a collection of tools or supplies gathered for a particular job or activity, and often packed together to carry. Every kit is a kind of set, but a kit implies a practical purpose.
What are some common types of kits?
Everyday examples include a first-aid kit for treating injuries, a tool kit for repairs, a sewing kit, and a model kit of parts to assemble. In sports and the military, 'kit' can also mean the full set of clothing and gear a person needs, such as a team's playing kit.
What does 'kit' mean in British English?
In British usage, 'kit' very often means the clothing and equipment for an activity, especially sport. A footballer's kit is their shirt, shorts, and socks; 'PE kit' is the gear schoolchildren wear for exercise. More generally, to 'get your kit together' means to gather your things.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include kit: