kit
KIHT
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.”
noun
1
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.
"She packed her sewing kit before the trip."
"Every soldier is issued a standard kit on arrival at base."
"He keeps a first-aid kit in the boot of his car."
2
A set of parts sold together for the buyer to assemble.
"He built the model plane from a kit he got for his birthday."
"The flat-pack wardrobe came as a kit with its own instructions."
"We bought a kit to build a small wooden birdhouse together."
3
The official uniform and equipment worn by players on a sports team.
"The team unveiled its new away kit ahead of the season."
"Don't forget your football kit, because training starts straight after school."
"The goalkeeper wore a bright green kit so the referee could tell him apart."
4
A young cat, fox, rabbit, or similar small animal.
"The vixen led her kits out of the den at dusk."
"A tiny kit squeaked beside its mother in the rabbit warren."
"The fox kits played together outside their den in the evening sun."
verb
1
To equip someone with the gear or clothing they need.
"The club kitted out every new player with boots and a jersey."
"We kitted the children out with waterproofs before the school trip."
"He spent weeks kitting himself out for the mountain expedition."
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.
Common mistake
In British English "kit" often just means clothes or sports uniform ("forgot my PE kit"), a usage that sounds unusual in American English.
Common pairings
first aid kit
football kit
flat-pack kit
kit out
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like kit.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- kits
- Third person singular
- kits
- Past tense
- kitted
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:
