equipment

American  

[ih-kwip-muhnt] / ɪˈkwɪp mənt /

noun

1. anything kept, furnished, or provided for a specific purpose.

   Synonyms:

   accouterment, paraphernalia, apparatus

2. the act of equipping a person or thing.

3. the state of being equipped.

4. the personal knowledge and skill required for a task, occupation, etc..

   He has the necessary equipment for law.

5. the rolling stock of a railroad.

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equipment British  

/ ɪˈkwɪpmənt /

noun

1. an act or instance of equipping

2. the items so provided

3. a set of tools, devices, kit, etc, assembled for a specific purpose, such as a soldier's kit and weapons

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Other Word Forms

• preequipment noun
• reequipment noun

Etymology

Origin of equipment

First recorded in 1710–20; equip + -ment

Example Sentences

The "very expensive equipment" the UK is sending is "highly capable", Kay said.

From BBC

A plant in Athens that produces home-care products was plagued by downtime, with production idled for days, when manufacturing equipment broke because manuals were in German, French and English.

From The Wall Street Journal

The troops were with the 1st Theater Sustainment Command, home-based in Fort Knox, Ky., which manages the flow of equipment and personnel to the port, according to one of the officials.

From The Wall Street Journal

The companies must also contend with long lead times for chip-making equipment and a lack of engineers to install and qualify tools.

From MarketWatch

Pakistani security sources said strikes at Bagram were based on "credible intelligence" to disrupt the "supply of critical equipment and stores" for Afghan soldiers and militants fighting Pakistan forces along the frontier.

From Barron's

Related Words

• apparatus
• furnishings
• furniture
• machinery
• material