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.nounB1
Definition

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

Example

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.

Common collocations
  • pair of khakis
  • wear khakis
  • khakis and a shirt
  • in khakis
  • cotton khakis
Synonyms
  • 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

Antonyms
  • jeans

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

Usage Note

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.

Common Mistakes

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.nounB2
Definition

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

Example

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.

Common collocations
  • army khakis
  • set of khakis
  • pieces of khakis
  • khakis and boots
  • in khakis
Synonyms
  • 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

Usage Note

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.

Common Mistakes

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.nounB1
Definition

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

Example

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.

Common collocations
  • shade of khaki
  • in khaki
  • khaki paint
  • khaki colour
Synonyms
  • 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

Usage Note

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

Common Mistakes

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

Word family

  • khaki
    nounB1
  • khaki
    adjectiveB1
  • khaki-coloured
    adjectiveB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Khakis, chinos, slacks, jeans, and cargo trousers are all types of leg garments, but they differ in fabric, formality, and style. Khakis are casual-to-smart cotton trousers in a beige or light brown shade, popular for office-casual and school dress codes. Chinos are a specific tailored variant of cotton trousers with a slimmer cut and crisper finish; in much of American English the two terms are used interchangeably, though chinos are slightly more formal. Slacks are dress trousers made from finer materials such as wool or polyester, worn with suits or blazers — they are considerably more formal than khakis. Jeans are made from thick denim fabric, available in many colours, and belong at the casual end of the spectrum; they are rarely beige or light brown. Cargo trousers feature large side pockets and extra fabric, making them more utilitarian and rugged than khakis. In short: if you need neat, light-coloured cotton trousers for a business-casual event, choose khakis or chinos; if you want a more relaxed look, choose jeans; if the occasion demands a suit, choose slacks.

chinos ↗slacks ↗jeans ↗cargo trousers

Common collocations

Phrases

  • a pair of khakis
  • shade of khaki
  • set of khakis

Prepositions

  • in khaki
  • in khakis
  • of khaki

Etymology

PersianHindi/UrduEnglish

The word enters English in the mid-19th century during the British colonial period in India. It comes from the Hindi/Urdu word 'khākī' (خاکی), meaning 'dusty' or 'earth-coloured', which itself derives from the Persian word 'khāk' (خاک) meaning 'dust' or 'earth'. British soldiers serving in India began dyeing their white cotton uniforms with local materials — mud, tea, coffee, and curry powder — to create a dusty, camouflaging colour that would not show dirt on the hot, arid frontier. The resulting shade was called 'khaki', and the fabric quickly became the standard for military uniforms worldwide by the early 20th century.

First known use

1857

1857, in the meaning defined at sense 1a Adjective