: a light narrow boat that has both ends tapered to a point, is propelled by a double-bladed paddle, and often has a closed top except for an opening in which the paddler sits with the legs extended straight out in front:
a
: a traditional boat that is typically associated with the Indigenous peoples (such as the Aleuts and Inuits) of Alaska, Canada, and Greenland, is usually made of a frame of wood or bone covered with animal skin, and is used especially for hunting and transport
Similar stone pillars guided Inuit seafarers traveling by umiak or kayak along the complex coasts of their realm.—
Fred Bruemmer
Fred Bruemmer
b
: a boat that is based on the traditional kayak and is typically made of plastic or fiberglass and is used especially for recreational purposes
Today's recreationists likewise have discovered that, among paddle-powered boats, the kayak has no equal for its graceful combination of lightness, portability, seaworthiness and speed.—Peter Stark
Peter StarkExamples of kayak in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
More daring vacationers can rent kayaks or hop on a whale-watching excursion, Sunset said.
—Hannah Poukish, Sacbee.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Swim, paddle, kayak, and surf with others—never alone.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 9 Sep. 2025
Later phases will include a disc golf course, a dog park, fishing piers, kayak and paddleboard access, a bird watching area, a hammock pole area and a lake deck, according to Rawn.
—Arkansas Online, 8 Sep. 2025
The girl’s mom got into a kayak, paddled out to the sinking canoe and rescued her daughter, but her boyfriend went underwater, deputies said.
—Jennifer Rodriguez, Kansas City Star, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for kayak
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Hannah Poukish, Sacbee.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Swim, paddle, kayak, and surf with others—never alone.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 9 Sep. 2025
Later phases will include a disc golf course, a dog park, fishing piers, kayak and paddleboard access, a bird watching area, a hammock pole area and a lake deck, according to Rawn.
—Arkansas Online, 8 Sep. 2025
The girl’s mom got into a kayak, paddled out to the sinking canoe and rescued her daughter, but her boyfriend went underwater, deputies said.
—Jennifer Rodriguez, Kansas City Star, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for kayak
Cite this Entry
“Kayak.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kayak. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
kayak
noun
kay·ak
ˈkī-ˌak 
1
: a canoe used by various Indigenous peoples of northern North America, Greenland, and eastern Siberia and made of a frame covered with skins except for a small opening in the center
2
: a small canoe resembling a kayak
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