# kata

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈkætə/ · frequency rank #37,055

## Definitions
1. Any of a sequence of positions and movements used in many martial arts.
2. A short programming exercise to improve one's skills through practice and repetition.

## Etymology
From Japanese 型 (literally “pattern, model”).
In English use since the 1950s.

## Easily confused with
- **KT** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kata-vs-kt)
- **kit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kata-vs-kit)
- **kay** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kata-vs-kay)
- **KIA** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kata-vs-kia)
- **kmt** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kata-vs-kmt)
- **KDA** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kata-vs-kda)
- **kya** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kata-vs-kya)
- **Kate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kata-vs-kate)
- **kits** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kata-vs-kits)
- **Katy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kata-vs-katy)
- **kite** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kata-vs-kite)
- **Katz** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kata-vs-katz)
- **Kira** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kata-vs-kira)
- **Kaye** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kata-vs-kaye)
- **Kato** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kata-vs-kato)
- **keto** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kata-vs-keto)
- **kaya** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kata-vs-kaya)
- **Kona** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kata-vs-kona)
- **Kath** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kata-vs-kath)
- **Kita** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kata-vs-kita)

## Common misspellings (5)
`akta`, `kaat`, `katta`, `kkata`, `ktaa`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/kata