equipment

noun

equip·​ment i-ˈkwip-mənt 

1

a

: the set of articles or physical resources serving to equip a person or thing: such as

(1)

: the implements used in an operation or activity : apparatus

sports equipment

(2)

: all the fixed assets other than land and buildings of a business enterprise

(3)

: the rolling stock of a railway

b

: a piece of such equipment

2

a

: the equipping of a person or thing

b

: the state of being equipped

3

: mental or emotional traits or resources : endowment

Synonyms

• accoutrements
• accouterments
• apparatus
• gear
• hardware
• kit [chiefly British]
• material(s)
• matériel
• materiel
• outfit
• paraphernalia
• stuff
• tackle

Examples of equipment in a Sentence

The photographer came early to set up his equipment.

I'm looking for a hobby that doesn't require a lot of fancy equipment.

an expensive piece of medical equipment

Not enough funds were provided for the equipment of the troops.

Recent Examples on the Web

The food bank also used $1 million of the donation to purchase new equipment, including two generators and two tractor trailers for carrying perishables, and has spent about $3 million on improving the food bank's facility in Laredo, Texas. —Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2025

Rosemount data center The $800 million data center, which will be used to store, collect and process computing and networking equipment, is currently being constructed on a 280-acre parcel of UMore Park near Dakota County Technical College. —Mars King, Twin Cities, 19 Feb. 2025

In eastern Kentucky, some officials are unable to get equipment on the roads to clear the snow, Gov. Andy Beshear said Wednesday. —Max Golembo, ABC News, 19 Feb. 2025

Evidence is mounting that the equipment of Southern California Edison, the region’s largest electricity provider, may have caused the Eaton Fire. —Tom Philp, The Mercury News, 19 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1651, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing equipment

• original equipment manufacturer
• personal protection equipment
• personal protective equipment
• re-equipment

Rhymes for equipment

• transhipment
• transshipment
• shipment

Kids Definition

equipment

noun

equip·​ment i-ˈkwip-mənt 

1

a

: the act of equipping a person or thing

b

: the state of being equipped

2

: the articles serving to equip a person or thing

Legal Definition

equipment

noun

equip·​ment

: the implements used in an operation or activity

specifically, in the Uniform Commercial Code : goods that are not inventory, farm products, or consumer goods

Note: This definition, found in Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code, applies to other Code articles as well.