khakis

IPA/ˈkɑː.ki/
KK[kˈækiz]IPA/ˈkæ.ki/

khakis — noun

1. casual trousers cut from lightweight cotton cloth, usually in a beige or light b

1.名詞B1
釋義

casual trousers cut from lightweight cotton cloth, usually in a beige or light brown shade, that are worn for work, school, or social events where a neat but relaxed look is appropriate

例句

Mei wore a navy blazer with her khakis for the evening graduation dinner.

plural noun for a pair of trousers

The school dress code says students must wear khakis or other plain-coloured trousers.

同義詞
  • chinos

    a specific tailored style of cotton trousers, often used interchangeably with khakis

  • cargo trousers

    cotton trousers with large side pockets, more casual than khakis

  • slacks

    dress trousers, usually more formal than khakis

反義詞
  • jeans

    casual trousers made of thicker denim fabric, typically not in beige shades

用法筆記

Always used in plural form. You can say 'a pair of khakis' to refer to a single garment. This is the most common everyday meaning of the word in American English.

常見錯誤

❌I need to buy a new khaki for the wedding.
✅I need to buy a new pair of khakis for the wedding.
💡use the plural 'khakis' or 'a pair of khakis', not the singular 'khaki'.

2. a piece of clothing or a full set of garments made from sturdy light-brown or gr

2.名詞B2
釋義

a piece of clothing or a full set of garments made from sturdy light-brown or greenish-brown fabric, originally designed for military use in hot climates and now also used for military-inspired outdoor wear — including uniforms, jackets, trousers, shirts, and coats

例句

The old khakis Kabir's grandfather wore during the war now sit in a local museum.

countable plural for a uniform set

In the old photo, soldiers stood at attention in crisp khakis and polished boots.

同義詞
  • fatigues

    military work clothes, often in camouflage rather than plain khaki fabric

  • uniform

    a broader term for any matching set of service clothes

  • battledress

    a specific style of military uniform, more formal than khakis

  • outdoor wear

    a broader category that includes khakis but also waterproof and insulated gear

用法筆記

This sense covers both actual military uniforms and military-inspired civilian clothing. The word can refer to a single item (a jacket, a pair of trousers, a shirt) or a full set of garments. When listing specific pieces, use phrases such as 'khaki jacket', 'khaki trousers', or 'khaki shirt' rather than 'khakis' alone.

常見錯誤

❌He wore his khaki to the office picnic.' (meaning cotton trousers)
✅He wore his khakis to the office picnic.
💡'khakis' (sense 1) is the word for casual cotton trousers; 'a khaki' in this military/clothing sense is less common and refers to a uniform item, not everyday trousers.

3. a brownish colour with yellow or green tones that resembles dry earth or faded g

3.名詞B1
釋義

a brownish colour with yellow or green tones that resembles dry earth or faded grass, often used for military and outdoor fabrics

例句

The artist mixed ochre and grey to make a khaki shade for her landscape painting.

uncountable noun for the colour itself

Christopher chose khaki for the curtains because the warm brown shade matches the wooden floorboards.

同義詞
  • tan

    a lighter, yellower shade of brown

  • beige

    a paler brown with less yellow or green

  • buff

    a yellow-brown shade, slightly lighter than khaki

  • olive drab

    a darker green-brown shade, closer to military green

用法筆記

In this sense the word is usually treated as an uncountable noun: 'Khaki is a practical colour for outdoor furniture.'

常見錯誤

❌I bought a pair of khaki.' (meaning trousers)
✅I bought a pair of khakis.
💡when referring to trousers, use the plural form 'khakis' (sense 1), not the singular colour name.

khakis — adjective