khaki

/ˈkɑːki/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkɑːki/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈka-kē ˈkä- Canadian often ˈkär-/ (ame, mw) · /ˈkɑː.ki/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkæ.ki/ (ame, ipa)

khaki — noun

1. light brown cotton trousers, often worn for school, work, or casual clothes

1.名詞B1
釋義

light brown cotton trousers, often worn for school, work, or casual clothes

例句

Christopher wore khakis and a white polo shirt to the interview.

plural noun: khakis for casual trousers

The school asked students to wear khakis on sports day.

common with school or work dress codes

同義詞
  • trousers

    the general word; khakis are a light brown casual type

  • chinos

    very similar, but often used more for a neat casual style than for school uniforms

文法句型

khakis

a pair of khakis

用法筆記

Usually used in the plural when it means trousers. Distinguish from noun sense 2, the colour, and noun sense 3, military clothing in general.

常見錯誤

❌He bought a khaki for work.
✅He bought a pair of khakis for work.
💡this sense normally uses the plural for trousers.
❌My khakis is still wet.
✅My khakis are still wet.
💡treat the trousers as a plural noun.

2. a light brown colour with a dusty or slightly green tone

2.名詞B1
釋義

a light brown colour with a dusty or slightly green tone

例句

Min chose khaki for the living room because the shade felt calm.

colour noun after choose

The designer mixed khaki with cream and dark green for the logo.

colour noun in a colour combination

同義詞
  • tan

    warmer and more yellow-brown than khaki

  • olive drab

    greener and more strongly linked to army equipment

文法句型

the colour khaki

paint something khaki

用法筆記

Used as the name of the colour itself. For a noun meaning trousers, use sense 1; for something that has this colour, use the adjective sense.

常見錯誤

❌The walls are khakis.
✅The walls are khaki.
💡colour names are not normally plural.
❌She painted khaki on the chair.
✅She painted the chair khaki.
💡after 'paint', the colour usually comes after the object.

3. military clothing in dusty light-brown fabric, especially uniforms

3.名詞B2
釋義

military clothing in dusty light-brown fabric, especially uniforms

例句

Old photos showed Vivek's grandfather standing in khaki beside a jeep.

pattern: in khaki = wearing uniform

The guide pointed out the guards in khaki at the palace gate.

collective clothing noun after in

同義詞
  • uniform

    broader; not every uniform is khaki

  • fatigues

    more specific to working military clothes, often for field use

文法句型

in khaki

wear khaki

用法筆記

Often appears in phrases like 'in khaki' when talking about soldiers or guards as a group. Distinguish from sense 1, which means everyday trousers, not uniforms in general.

常見錯誤

❌The officer wore a khaki.
✅The officer wore khaki.
💡this sense is usually uncountable when it means military clothing.
❌The children came in khaki' (for school trousers).
✅The children came in khakis.
💡use the plural trousers sense for everyday pants.

khaki — adjective