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.
IBM: As a cornerstone of the quantum ecosystem, Big Blue offers cloud-based access to its vast quantum fleet and maintains Qiskit, an open-source development kit enabling users to build quantum computing programs.
From Barron's • May 15, 2026
The company sends customers seasonal perfumes four times a year, packaged with a sample kit and the full-size perfume in a separate, sealed box.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 11, 2026
The assignment: Design a modern athlete kit for Wimbledon 2027, with the spirit of 1999.
From Los Angeles Times • May 11, 2026
A strict isolation facility has one bed fully equipped to deal with infectious diseases, complete with testing kit and a ventilator.
From BBC • May 9, 2026
This Every-Other Friday was the worst one Bat had ever experienced, because it meant that it would be three days until he saw the skunk kit again.
From "A Boy Called Bat" by Elana K. Arnold
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.
