: 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
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
Examples of kayak in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Search efforts are underway for a college kayak fisherman who went missing on Toledo Bend Reservoir Wednesday.
—Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 25 Sep. 2025
The cost is $160 per two-person tandem kayak.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Sep. 2025
But Bush said kayak rentals and Canoecopia, the largest annual consumer paddle sports expo in the world, will continue.
—Francesca Pica, jsonline.com, 24 Sep. 2025
To explore the waterways independently, rent kayaks or paddle boards to enjoy other paddling trails in the area.
—Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 24 Sep. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Kayak.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kayak. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
Kids 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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