carat

Q: 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.

Q: 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.

1 of 3

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 3

noun (2)

car·at ˈker-ət

ˈka-rət

: a unit of weight for precious stones equal to 200 milligrams

karat

3 of 3

noun (3)

kar·at ˈker-ət

ˈka-rət

variants or carat

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

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

Noun (3) She was wearing an 18 karat gold bracelet. Pure gold is 24 karats.

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

All the diamonds here are lab-grown, clocking in at a total weight of three carats. — Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 19 Oct. 2026 Designed by Martin Katz, the bra featured nearly 3,900 gemstones, including two black diamond drops and 120 round white diamonds, with a total weight of 1,500 carats. — Amanda Le, InStyle, 17 Oct. 2026

Noun

Luzon layered her signature 24-karat gold mask over a professional-use DNA mask, massaging the treatment to enhance absorption. — Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 20 Oct. 2026 Jenner wore the label’s Panthère de Cartier earrings and ring, the dazzling pieces made of 18-karat white gold, emeralds, onyx, and diamonds. — Christian Allaire, Vogue, 18 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

Noun (3)

Middle English carrat — more at carat

First Known Use

Noun (2)

1555, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of carat was in the 15th century

See more words from the same century

Browse Nearby Words

cara sposa

carat

Caratacus

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Carat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carat. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

carat

1 of 2

variant of karat

carat

2 of 2 noun

car·at ˈkar-ət

: a unit of weight for precious gems (as diamonds) equal to 200 milligrams

carat

noun (1)

noun (2)

noun (3)

Frequently Asked Questions

Examples of carat in a Sentence

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

'Carat' vs. 'Karat' (vs. 'Caret')

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

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carat

noun (1)

noun (2)

noun (3)

Frequently Asked Questions

Examples of carat in a Sentence

Word History

Rhymes for carat

Browse Nearby Words

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'Carat' vs. 'Karat' (vs. 'Caret')

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