What does gi mean?
Gi is an informal English noun with two familiar uses. In racing circles and general British and American speech, it can refer to a greyhound, particularly a dog competing in racing. In martial arts, a gi is the traditional uniform worn for judo, karate, aikido, and several related disciplines. A typical gi consists of a jacket and matching trousers, traditionally white, though its design and permissible colours vary between sports and levels of practice. The word is therefore not limited to dogs, despite being especially associated with greyhound racing in older usage. When discussing martial arts, “gi” should not be treated as interchangeable with every uniform: judo, karate, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu use distinct garments with different rules. Understanding both senses prevents confusion and also explains why the word appears in both racing and martial-arts contexts.
An informal term for a greyhound, especially one used in racing.
"They backed the favourite gi to win the final."
Chiefly informal; common in racing and sporting contexts.
The traditional jacket and trousers worn for judo, karate, aikido, and certain other martial arts.
"He adjusted his gi before stepping onto the mat."
Standard martial-arts terminology. The cut and rules differ among disciplines.
Used for multiple greyhounds or martial-arts uniforms.
"The club keeps its gis in a row along the wall."
Gi can mean both a racing greyhound and the uniform of a judo or karate practitioner—a rare double life for one small word.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does gi come from?
The greyhound sense is an informal English word whose precise origin is uncertain; it appears to have developed as specialized racing vocabulary. The martial-arts sense was borrowed from Japanese, where gi refers to clothing or a training uniform. Its English use became established alongside the international spread of judo and karate in the twentieth century. Related English vocabulary includes greyhound, while the apparently similar garrison belongs to a different etymological tradition and should not be treated as a direct cognate.
Related word forms
How gi is actually used
For the greyhound sense, gi is chiefly informal and is especially associated with racing. In martial arts, it is standard terminology; judo and karate uniforms differ in construction, so the more specific term is preferable where precision matters.
Easily confused with gi
Gee is an expression of surprise, while gi can name a greyhound or a martial-arts uniform.
A jersey is an informal name for a greyhound, especially in racing contexts, whereas gi is also used for a judo or karate uniform.