a set or collection of tools, supplies, instructional matter, etc., for a specific purpose.
a first-aid kit; a sales kit.
the case for containing these.
such a case and its contents.
a set of materials or parts from which something can be assembled.
a model car made from a kit.
Informal. a set, lot, or collection of things or persons.
a wooden tub, pail, etc., usually circular.
Chiefly British. a costume or outfit of clothing, especially for a specific purpose.
ski kit; dancing kit; battle kit.
to package or make available in a kit.
a new model airplane that has just been kitted for the hobbyist.
Chiefly British. to outfit or equip (often followed by out orup ).
a set of tools, supplies, construction materials, etc, for use together or for a purpose
a first-aid kit
a model aircraft kit
the case or container for such a set
a set of pieces of equipment ready to be assembled
( as modifier )
kit furniture
clothing and other personal effects, esp those of a traveller or soldier
safari kit
battle kit
informal clothing in general (esp in the phrase get one's kit off )
a flax basket
informal everything or everybody
an informal or diminutive name for kitten
a cub of various small mammals, such as the ferret or fox
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English kit(te), kyt(t) “wooden bucket or tub,” from Middle Dutch kitte “jug, tankard”
First recorded in 1510–20; origin uncertain
First recorded in 1555–65; shortening of kitten ( def. )
A collection of things used for a certain purpose is a kit, like a first aid kit with bandages and aspirin, or a tool kit with hammers, screwdrivers, and wrenches. There are kits meant for camping, taking care of your cat, and painting landscapes. A group of items needed to build or assemble something is also a kit, like a model airplane kit. The case you keep these things in can also be called a kit. A completely different sort of kit is a baby animal like a fox or beaver kit. A set of drums — bass, tom, snare and cymbals — is commonly called a "drum kit."
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Mody, who recently received her own kit, believes that the device can help build confidence—especially for clinicians who are APCs or work in family medicine but haven’t received paracervical block training.
From Slate • Jun. 7, 2026
Over time, it’s our repair kit that slows down—and we don’t have a clear idea why.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026
She didn’t have a necropsy kit to do a detailed assessment, but noticed there wasn’t much blood, which might indicate it had severe gashes and died from blood loss.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 3, 2026
He was unable to train that day because he had not had time to collect his kit after finishing work at a papaya plantation.
From Barron's • Jun. 3, 2026
“I’m sorry you had to see that,” she said, still avoiding his gaze, as she returned to the first aid kit, the lid of which she suddenly struggled to take off.
From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
