kayak

American  

[kahy-ak] / ˈkaɪ æk /

Also kaiak,

noun

• kayaks
  plural

1. a traditional Inuit or Yupik canoe with a skin cover on a light framework, made watertight by flexible closure around the waist of the occupant and propelled with a double-bladed paddle.

2. a small boat resembling this, made commercially of a variety of materials and used in sports.

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verb (used without object)

1. to go or travel by kayak.

verb (used with object)

1. to travel on by kayak.

   to kayak the Colorado River.

kayak British  

/ ˈkaɪæk /

noun

1. a small light canoe-like boat used by the Inuit, consisting of a light frame covered with watertight animal skins

2. a fibreglass or canvas-covered canoe of similar design

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• kayaker
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• kayaks
  plural

Etymology

Origin of kayak

First recorded in 1750–60, kayak is from the Inuit word qayaq

Explanation

A kayak is a narrow one- or two-person boat that is propelled with a double-ended paddle. You can use a kayak in the ocean, on a pond or lake, or in a river. When you get in a kayak and start paddling around, you kayak (the verb). People who visit the beach often rent sea kayaks and kayak around the shore and between small islands. An even more adventurous way to kayak is in a whitewater kayak on a fast-moving river. Kayaks were first built and used by Inuits, Aleuts, and Yup'iks, and the word comes from the Inuit qayaq, "small boat of skins."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

kayak kayaks

When the weather cooperates, take to the sea by paddleboard or kayak, easy to rent from Sea Nantucket.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 20, 2026

Dai managed to help Marley back onto the kayak but could not climb back on himself.

From BBC ● Jun. 10, 2026

German media have broadcast the hapless creature lying motionless in shallow water for hours on end, with men in diving suits splashing water on it using kayak paddles.

From Barron's ● Apr. 23, 2026

The canoe slalom and kayak cross are scheduled for venues in Oklahoma City.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 7, 2026

And out there, heading our way, was Mr. DiAngelo’s new red kayak.

From "Red Kayak" by Priscilla Cummings

On summer weekends, thousands show up in Guerneville with kayaks, canoes, inner tubes — just about anything that will float, preferably with a cooler attached.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026

The Float and Fish excursion sends guests in kayaks along a clear and fast-moving section of the river, casting in pockets and eddies.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026

"An elderly person living permanently in a village has a perfect right to be there but is not hiring paddleboards and kayaks, or going to restaurants," he says.

From BBC ● Feb. 25, 2026

Some occupants escaped the fire by jumping from an elevated first floor, they said, adding that some had to be rescued from the backyard with kayaks.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2025

The place looked like a typical summer camp, log cabins in the woods, kayaks strewn on the beach.

From "If I Stay" by Gayle Forman

Related Words

• outrigger