carat

1 of 2

noun (1)

car·​at

variant spelling of karat

: a unit of fineness for gold equal to 1/24 part of pure gold in an alloy

carat

2 of 2

noun (2)

car·​at ˈker-ət How to pronounce carat (audio)
ˈka-rət
: a unit of weight for precious stones equal to 200 milligrams

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a carat and a karat?

These two words are tricky, as one of them may refer both to the measurement of a precious stone's weight and to the purity of gold, while the other only refers to the purity of gold. Carat may be used for both, but karat is only employed in reference to gold.

What is weighed in carats?

Precious stones are weighed in carats; a single carat is equal to 200 milligrams. Carat is also a variant spelling of karat, which measures the purity (but not the weight) of gold.

How much is a carat?

If carat is serving as a variant spelling of karat, then it is measuring the fineness, rather than the weight, of gold; each carat is equal to 1/24 part of pure gold. If carat is being used in reference to precious stones, it is a unit of weight equal to 200 milligrams.

Examples of carat in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Referencing the starry design of the dress, Dion wore a new comète necklace made of platinum, 18-karat white gold, and 1,080 diamonds that totaled more than 67 carats. — Christian Allaire, Vogue, 15 Oct. 2026 In the first half of 2026, De Beers’ rough-diamond price index fell 16 percent year-over-year, while the average realized diamond price fell 32 percent to $105 per carat. — Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026 Jewelry retailer Brilliant Earth now lets customers upload or snap a photo of their hand and overlay different engagement rings on their finger, giving a feel for various diamond shapes and carat weights. — Lauren Schuster, Charlotte Observer, 12 Oct. 2026 The stone, which weighs an impressive 24 carats, comes from a family of European nobles. — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 12 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for carat

Word History

Etymology

Noun (2)

Middle English carrat measure of fineness in gold, from Middle French carat measure of fineness in gold or of weight in gems, from Italian carato, from Arabic qīrāṭ bean pod, a small weight, from Greek keration carob bean, a small weight, from diminutive of kerat-, keras horn — more at horn

First Known Use

Noun (2)

1555, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of carat was in 1555

Rhymes for carat

See All Rhymes for carat

Browse Nearby Words

cara sposa
carat
Caratacus
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Carat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carat. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

carat

1 of 2

variant of karat

carat

2 of 2 noun
car·​at ˈkar-ət How to pronounce carat (audio)
: a unit of weight for precious gems (as diamonds) equal to 200 milligrams

More from Merriam-Webster on carat

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about carat

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