khaki

American  

[kak-ee, kah-kee] / ˈkæk i, ˈkɑ ki /

noun

• khakis
  plural

1. dull yellowish brown.

2. a stout, twilled cotton cloth of this color, used especially in making uniforms.

3. (used with a plural verb) Usually khakis.

   1. a uniform made of this cloth, especially a military uniform.

   2. a garment made of this cloth, especially trousers.

4. a similar fabric of wool.

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adjective

1. of the color khaki.

2. made of khaki.

khaki British  

/ ˈkɑːkɪ /

noun

1. 1. a dull yellowish-brown colour

   2. ( as adjective )

      a khaki background

2. 1. a hard-wearing fabric of this colour, used esp for military uniforms

   2. ( as modifier )

      a khaki jacket

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• khakilike
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• khakis
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of khaki

First recorded in 1855–60; from Urdu, from Persian khākī “dusty,” equivalent to khāk “dust” + -ī a suffix indicating relationship or origin

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Explanation

Khaki is a type of fabric commonly used in uniforms, and the typical color of this fabric is also known as khaki. If you wear khaki pants and a white t-shirt every day, you might try spicing up your wardrobe with a bright floral print or a purple fedora. Khaki is a heavy-duty cotton fabric in a drab yellowish-brown shade. Khaki uniforms became common in the military because the fabric is both sturdy and inconspicuous. After British troops started wearing khaki in the 19th century, they became known as "the Khakis." Today a pair of khakis is just your everyday cotton trousers — you can also call them chinos. Khaki comes from the Persian word for "dust," khak.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

khaki khakis

Over the years, music and dancing have figured prominently in Gap’s advertising, whether it was models in khaki pants dancing to swing or performances by Madonna, Missy Elliott, LL Cool J and Aerosmith.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026

Spencer Schoenbaum was there celebrating his 29th birthday with friends — all of them wearing Bruin polo shirts and khaki shorts, as a nod to Aztec coach Sean Lewis’ statement about UCLA’s purported preppy fashion.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 13, 2026

"I'd grown up around it, we used to joke that if you cut my dad, he'd bleed khaki," she says.

From BBC ● Jun. 22, 2026

Eugene Levert, chain-smoking next to a stack of books while wearing a vertical blue-striped button-down and khaki slacks, looked the scholarly mirror of Doug Lamplugh, in a horizontal blue-striped polo and khaki shorts.

From Slate ● May 4, 2026

Again, he's wearing a button-down shirt and too-tight khaki shorts.

From "Pride" by Ibi Zoboi

It made khakis cool with its television commercials that showed models dancing in them to swing music.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026

Gap, famous for its jeans, khakis, white T-shirts and hoodies, laid out its stores with clothing organised by size and style, which was a pioneering approach at the time.

From BBC ● May 5, 2026

We get multiple nondescriptive lists: khakis, leather jackets, flannels, baggy denim, work jeackets, graphic T-shirts, sweaters and rugby tops.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 3, 2026

Laboe’s resonant voice echoed through the Riverside neighborhoods where I grew up, from passing cars and open windows, a staple of la cultura in particular — the Chicano culture of lowriders, Pendletons and khakis.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 28, 2025

It has just one live actor, Steve, a fresh-faced man in his early twenties in khakis and a rugby shirt who acts as the show’s host.

From "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell

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Related Words

• attire
• costume
• dress
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• gown
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• robe
• suit

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