equipment
B1Neutral to formal. Common in technical, business, and everyday contexts.
Definition
Meaning
The necessary items, tools, or machinery for a particular purpose, task, or activity.
The collective resources or capabilities required to perform a function, including intangible attributes like knowledge or skills in some contexts.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
A non-count/mass noun; does not take a plural 's' (*equipments). Refers to a collection or set of items viewed as a whole.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling and some collocational preferences. UK uses 'kit' more informally for personal/sports gear. US uses 'gear' more broadly.
Connotations
Similar core meaning. In UK, 'equipment' can sound slightly more formal or industrial than 'kit'.
Frequency
Very high frequency in both varieties with no significant disparity.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[equipment] for [activity/purpose]: equipment for the gym[equipment] to [infinitive]: equipment to measure pressure[ADJ] equipment: outdated equipmentVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “All the gear and no idea.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Capital expenditure on new office equipment.
Academic
The experiment requires highly calibrated laboratory equipment.
Everyday
We need to buy some camping equipment for our trip.
Technical
The fault was traced to a malfunction in the cooling equipment.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The army will equip the new barracks.
- The van was equipped with a winch.
American English
- The studio is equipped for film production.
- We equipped the team with the latest software.
adverb
British English
- They were adequately equipped for the hike.
- The room was sparsely equipped.
American English
- The lab was newly equipped.
- The team was insufficiently equipped.
adjective
British English
- The well-equipped kitchen had everything.
- It was a poorly equipped clinic.
American English
- The fully-equipped gym is now open.
- She is a highly equipped specialist.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The school has new computer equipment.
- Football players need special equipment.
- The company invested in modern office equipment.
- Safety equipment must be worn at all times on the construction site.
- The laboratory's analytical equipment requires regular calibration.
- A lack of proper filming equipment hampered the production.
- The treaty restricts the export of dual-use equipment with potential military applications.
- The expedition's survival was contingent upon the robustness of its cold-weather equipment.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
EQUIP a boat with MENT (meant) for sailing. You add equipment to be ready.
Conceptual Metaphor
EQUIPMENT IS A TOOLKIT FOR A JOURNEY/TASK.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid using as a countable plural (*equipments).
- Do not confuse with 'equipage' (устар. экипаж).
- The Russian 'оборудование' is a close match, but 'equipment' is broader, including items like 'спортивный инвентарь' (sports equipment).
Common Mistakes
- Using as countable: 'We bought three new equipments.' (incorrect) -> 'We bought three new pieces of equipment.' (correct)
- Misspelling as 'equiptment'.
- Using 'an equipment' (incorrect as it's uncountable).
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'equipment' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Uncountable. It is never used in the plural form 'equipments'. To specify quantity, use phrases like 'a piece of equipment' or 'items of equipment'.
'Equipment' is a collective term for a set of tools or machinery for a task. A 'device' is a single, distinct object or tool, often electronic or mechanical, designed for a specific function (e.g., a smartphone is a device; the devices in a lab are part of its equipment).
Primarily physical, but it can be used metaphorically. For example, 'mental equipment' can refer to one's intellectual capabilities or knowledge needed for a task.
'To use', 'to operate', 'to install', 'to maintain', and 'to check' are common. The related verb is 'to equip' (to provide with equipment).
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