khaki

1 of 2

noun

kha·​ki ˈka-kē How to pronounce khaki (audio) ˈkä- How to pronounce khaki (audio)
 Canadian often  ˈkär-
1
a
: a light yellowish-brown cloth made usually of cotton or wool
a uniform made of khaki
b
: a garment (such as a military uniform or a pair of pants) made of this cloth
usually plural
His hair was brushed back and his service khakis pressed. The two officers went aft to the helicopter pad …Tom Clancy
Traditionally, loafers are strictly casual. You wear them with khakis to the bar or on casual Fridays.GQ
2
: a light yellowish-brown

khaki

2 of 2

adjective

: of the color khaki : having a light, yellowish-brown color
used especially of cloth
khaki pants

Did you know?

In the mid-19th century, units of the British Indian Army applied the Hindi word khāki, “dust-colored, brown,” to the color of a uniform cloth. Dull brown uniforms were preferred because they did not show dirt, but the major reason that all colonial units of the British Army eventually adopted them was because they made excellent camouflage. Today we typically associate khaki with fashionable casualness and a summery look rather than British military uniforms.

Examples of khaki in a Sentence

Noun a military uniform made of khaki
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
But if your style and taste match the khaki and taupe colors, just be prepared to rinse and repeat. Lee Alisha Williams, Southern Living, 15 Mar. 2024 Embracing the darkness Save for pops of scarlet leather, the color palette in Milan was overwhelmingly dark and utilitarian for Fall-Winter 2024, with dark khaki and olive greens dominating (beautifully at Ferragamo and Tod’s). Scarlett Conlon, CNN, 27 Feb. 2024 During the show, the white-haired Rubenstein — wearing khakis, a blue shirt and blazer — strides to home plate and assumes his batting stance. Christine Condon, Baltimore Sun, 31 Jan. 2024 But in the late moments of the Rose Bowl, Saban had to have cracked open his sacred talisman and offered another wish to the genie he’s imprisoned in his golf khakis since Obama was still in office. Iliana Limón Romero, Los Angeles Times, 3 Jan. 2024 Other menswear moments had a ‘gamine garçon’ mood and included a louche shirt and vest with tailored pants or a simple khaki suit and white shirt look. Roxanne Robinson, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024 United States District Judge George L. Russell III wrote in an opinion Wednesday that the white child was wearing khaki shorts that adhered to the dress code while Grant’s son was wearing basketball shorts in violation of the dress code. Dillon Mullan, Baltimore Sun, 7 Feb. 2024 Holmes, dressed in a prison-issue khaki top and pants, also spent some time at a red picnic table with her parents, Christian and Noel Holmes, and some unidentified friends. Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2024 The promo then cuts from Elordi — nervously standing in a purple and green hoodie and khaki pants — to flashbacks of past hosts making grand entrances including Kim Kardashian, Zac Efron and Megan Thee Stallion. Kyle Denis, Billboard, 17 Jan. 2024
Adjective
The tote comes in beige, khaki, a neutral hue between the two aptly called beige-khaki, black, gray, light blue, dark blue, soft purple, pink, and pretty sage green. Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 20 Jan. 2024 Henchy, 59, looped dapper in a khaki-colored suit and brown shoes, while Grier sported a strapless black ensemble and pointed-toe black heels, carrying a sparkly silver purse. Jen Juneau, Peoplemag, 5 Apr. 2023 Powered by the automatic Zenith El Primero 3620 movement with high-beat, 5Hz frequency and 60-hour power reserve, the watch comes paired with two straps: a black Cordura-effect rubber strap and a khaki Cordura-effect strap. Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 27 Mar. 2023 Tamsin Johnson Interiors opted for a black marble backsplash and a khaki-toned paint color to embrace the mood and physical constraints of the room. Hadley Mendelsohn, House Beautiful, 24 Feb. 2023 While Jenner sported leather pants, black boots and a gray oversized jacket for the outing at Wally's in Beverly Hills, the Puerto Rican singer donned cream pants, a brown jacket and a khaki-colored hat. Kirsty Hatcher, Peoplemag, 20 Feb. 2023 Off-Duty Essentials For effortless style for any day of the week, throw a khaki-colored trench atop easy staples like a white button-up shirt and head out. Madeline Fass, Vogue, 16 Feb. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'khaki.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Hindi & Urdu khākī dust-colored, from khāk dust, from Persian

First Known Use

Noun

1857, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1856, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of khaki was in 1856

Dictionary Entries Near khaki

Cite this Entry

“Khaki.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/khaki. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

khaki

noun
kha·​ki ˈkak-ē How to pronounce khaki (audio) ˈkäk- How to pronounce khaki (audio)
1
: a light yellowish brown
2
a
: a light yellowish brown cloth often used for military uniforms
b
: a garment made of this cloth (as a military uniform)
Etymology

Noun

from Hindi khākī "dust-colored," from khāk "dust"; of Persian origin

Word Origin
In northern India a language known as Hindi gave the name khākī to a certain kind of strong cloth. This Hindi name meant "dust-colored," because the cloth was a light yellowish brown. When the British spent time in India, they discovered that the strong brown material made good military uniforms. Now the word khaki is used in English for a uniform, as well as for the cloth used to make it.

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