What does equipping mean?
Equipping is the present participle and gerund of the verb 'equip', meaning to supply a person, place, or organization with whatever is needed for a particular purpose — whether that means physical gear, tools, training, or intangible qualities like skills and confidence. It carries a constructive, preparatory connotation and appears frequently in education, business, military, and charitable contexts, as in 'equipping graduates for the workplace'. The word can also function as a noun referring to the process of fitting something out, though this use is less common than the verbal one. Etymologically intriguing, 'equip' derives from the French 'équiper', which likely came from the Old Norse 'skipa', meaning to man or fit out a ship — making the word's maritime origins a memorable detail. Its flexibility between concrete and figurative senses makes it a versatile and valuable term in modern English.
Present participle of 'equip': to provide someone or something with the necessary items, resources, or qualities for a particular purpose.
"They are equipping every classroom with interactive whiteboards."
The act or process of furnishing or fitting out someone or something.
"The equipping of the expedition took several weeks."
Though it feels thoroughly English, 'equip' likely sailed in from Old Norse — it traces back to 'skipa', meaning to fit out a ship.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of equipping
Equipping is formed from the verb 'equip', borrowed from French 'équiper' in the early seventeenth century. The French verb most likely derives from Old Norse 'skipa', meaning to set in order or fit out a ship, ultimately rooted in the Germanic word for ship. This makes 'equip' a cousin of the everyday English word 'ship', a nautical origin that survives faintly in the sense of fitting out a vessel for voyage. Related borrowings include 'equipment' and the now largely archaic 'equipage'.
Related word forms
How equipping is actually used
Most common in formal, professional, educational, and military contexts. Frequently used figuratively — one can be 'equipped' with knowledge or confidence as readily as with tools. The gerund is an uncountable noun and has no plural.
Easily confused with equipping
'Equipment' is the noun meaning the tools or gear itself, while 'equipping' is the action or process of providing it.