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• gi
  gi

  noun

  a lightweight, two-piece, usually white garment worn by barefooted martial-arts participants, consisting of loose-fitting pants and a wraparound jacket with cloth belt.
• Gi
  Gi

  gilbert; gilberts.
• GI
  GI

  noun

  a member or former member of the U.S. armed forces, especially an enlisted soldier.
• gi.
  gi.

  abbreviation

  gill; gills.
• G.I.
  G.I.

  abbreviation

  galvanized iron.

gi

¹ American  

[gee] / gi /

Or gie

noun

1. a lightweight, two-piece, usually white garment worn by barefooted martial-arts participants, consisting of loose-fitting pants and a wraparound jacket with cloth belt.

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Gi ² American  

1. gilbert; gilberts.

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GI ³ American  

[jee-ahy] / ˈdʒiˈaɪ /

Or G.I.

noun

GI's, plural GIs plural

1. a member or former member of the U.S. armed forces, especially an enlisted soldier.

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adjective

1. rigidly adhering to military regulations and practices; regimented; spit-and-polish.

   a platoon leader who tried to be more GI than anyone else.

2. of a standardized style or type issued by the U.S. armed forces.

   GI shoes; GI blankets.

3. conforming to the regulations or practices of the U.S. armed forces.

   Every recruit must get a GI haircut.

4. of, relating to, or characteristic of a U.S. enlisted person.

   a typical peacetime GI complaint.

verb (used with object)

GI'd, GI'ing

1. to clean in preparation for inspection.

   to GI the barracks.

verb (used without object)

GI'd, GI'ing

1. to follow military regulations and customs closely; shape up.

   You'd better learn to GI if you want to be promoted.

gi. ⁴ American  

abbreviation

1. gill; gills.

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G.I. ⁵ American  

Also g.i.

abbreviation

1. galvanized iron.

2. gastrointestinal.

3. general issue.

4. government issue.

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GI ¹ British  

noun

1. a soldier in the US Army, esp an enlisted man

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adjective

1. conforming to US Army regulations; of standard government issue

GI ² British  

abbreviation

1. gastrointestinal

2. glycaemic index

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Gi ³ British  

abbreviation

1. gilbert

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gi ⁴ British  

/ ɡiː /

noun

1. a loose-fitting white suit worn in judo, karate, and other martial arts

   a karate gi

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gi ⁵ British  

abbreviation

1. Gibraltar

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• GI's
  plural
• GIs
  plural

Etymology

Origin of gi¹

1970–75; shortening of Japanese jūdō-gi jujitsu garb, equivalent to jūdō judo + -gi, combining form of ki to wear

Origin of GI³

1915–20; originally abbreviation of galvanized iron, used in U.S. Army bookkeeping in entering articles (e.g., trash cans) made of it; later extended to all articles issued (as an assumed abbreviation of government issue ) and finally to soldiers themselves

Example Sentences

In an under-reported story, the GI Rights hotline, which helps service members understand their rights to discharge and responds to other concerns, has seen a large increase in calls.

From Salon • May 3, 2026

A growing population, the GI Bill, increased enrollment of women and minority students, the clear financial returns of four-year degrees and federal student loans all helped swell college enrollment and the American economy.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

We need validated instruments for diagnosing functional GI disorders in patients on these drugs, so that adverse events stop being absorbed into the noise of “expected side effects.”

From Slate • Mar. 22, 2026

Radiotherapy UK with the GI clinical oncology team at the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust have said they want to start a conversation on what is regarded as one of the most under-talked-about cancers.

From BBC • Mar. 18, 2026

“That’s very well put,” applauded Major Sanderson, who wore squeaking GI shoes and had charcoal-black hair that stood up almost straight.

From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller