What does equipment mean?
Equipment refers to the collection of tools, machines, instruments, or supplies needed to carry out a particular task or activity. It appears across nearly every domain of modern life — sports equipment on the field, medical equipment in hospitals, audio equipment in studios, and safety equipment on construction sites. Grammatically, equipment behaves as an uncountable (mass) noun in standard English: it takes singular verbs and has no plural form, so speakers refer to 'pieces of equipment' when counting individual items. The word carries a practical, functional connotation, suggesting purpose-built items rather than casual belongings. Derived from the verb 'equip,' which entered English from French in the early seventeenth century, it remains one of the most widely used terms for describing the material tools that enable human activity.
The set of tools, machinery, or other items needed for a particular purpose or activity.
"Photographers carry a surprising amount of equipment."
Uncountable; use 'a piece of equipment' for individual items.
The act of equipping someone or something, or the state of being equipped.
"The equipment of the expedition took several months."
'Equipment' has no plural form in standard English. To count individual items, use constructions such as 'pieces of equipment' or specify the item type directly.
"Several pieces of equipment were damaged during transport."
Despite naming thousands of physical objects, 'equipment' is an uncountable noun — you can never say 'an equipment,' no matter how many items you own.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of equipment
'Equipment' derives from the verb 'equip,' which entered English from French 'équiper' in the early seventeenth century, originally in the nautical sense of fitting out a ship. The French verb likely traces further back through Middle Dutch or Old Norse sources related to ships and provisioning. The noun 'equipment' followed shortly after, first meaning the act of equipping before settling into its modern sense of the items themselves. It shares its root with 'equipage' and the broader family of words descended from the same French source.
Related word forms
How equipment is actually used
'Equipment' is uncountable in standard English: it takes singular verbs and cannot be used with 'a' or in the plural. To refer to individual items, use phrases like 'a piece of equipment' or 'items of equipment.' The word is neutral in register and common in both everyday and technical contexts.
Easily confused with equipment
'Equipment' refers to physical tools or apparatus, while 'equity' means fairness or ownership value — they share only a distant Latin root.