What does karat mean?
Karat is a noun that refers to a unit of purity for gold, with 24-karat being pure gold. It is commonly used in the jewelry industry to describe the fineness of gold alloys. Karat is often abbreviated as 'kt' or 'ktf'. The term is important for distinguishing between different types of gold, as it indicates the proportion of gold in an alloy. For example, 14-karat gold is 58.3% gold, while 22-karat gold is 91.6% gold. Understanding karat is essential for buying and selling gold jewelry and coins.
nounA unit of purity for gold, with 24-karat being pure gold. Karat is often abbreviated as 'kt' or 'ktf'.
- A measure of gold purity
- A unit of gold fineness
"The necklace was stamped with 14-karat gold."
"The ring was made of 22-karat gold."
"The jeweler only sold 18-karat and higher gold jewelry."
The plural form is used when referring to multiple units of karat.
"The jewelry store sold 10, 14, and 18 karats of gold."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of karat
The word 'karat' originated from the Arabic term 'qirat', which referred to a unit of weight equivalent to four grains or about 0.2 grams. This term was later adopted into Italian as 'carato' and then into English as 'carat', which is used to measure the weight of gemstones. However, in the context of gold, 'karat' emerged as a distinct term to denote purity rather than weight.
How karat is actually used
Karat is often used in the context of gold jewelry and coins. It is distinct from 'carat', which is a unit of weight for gemstones.