diff --git a/packages/patterns/index.js b/packages/patterns/index.js
index 9bd5dbb5f5..1a3cc1773f 100644
--- a/packages/patterns/index.js
+++ b/packages/patterns/index.js
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ export {
   getInterfaceMethodKeys,
   assertInterfaceGuard,
   getInterfaceGuardPayload,
+  kindOf,
 } from './src/patterns/patternMatchers.js';
 
 // ////////////////// Temporary, until these find their proper home ////////////
diff --git a/packages/patterns/src/patterns/internal-types.js b/packages/patterns/src/patterns/internal-types.js
index ceb3ec4085..1d15dc41ba 100644
--- a/packages/patterns/src/patterns/internal-types.js
+++ b/packages/patterns/src/patterns/internal-types.js
@@ -44,6 +44,18 @@
 /** @typedef {import('../types').AllLimits} AllLimits */
 /** @typedef {import('../types').GetRankCover} GetRankCover */
 
+/**
+ * @typedef {Exclude<PassStyle, 'tagged'> |
+ *   'copySet' | 'copyBag' | 'copyMap' |
+ *   `match:${any}` | `guard:${any}`
+ * } Kind
+ * It is either a PassStyle other than 'tagged', or, if the underlying
+ * PassStyle is 'tagged', then the `getTag` value for tags that are
+ * recognized at the @endo/patterns level of abstraction. For each of those
+ * tags, a tagged record only has that kind if it satisfies the invariants
+ * that the @endo/patterns level associates with that kind.
+ */
+
 /**
  * @typedef {object} MatchHelper
  * This factors out only the parts specific to each kind of Matcher. It is
@@ -85,4 +97,5 @@
  * @property {(patt: Passable) => boolean} isPattern
  * @property {GetRankCover} getRankCover
  * @property {MatcherNamespace} M
+ * @property {(specimen: Passable, check?: Checker) => Kind | undefined} kindOf
  */
diff --git a/packages/patterns/src/patterns/patternMatchers.js b/packages/patterns/src/patterns/patternMatchers.js
index 49e266a49b..71a5beb8a3 100644
--- a/packages/patterns/src/patterns/patternMatchers.js
+++ b/packages/patterns/src/patterns/patternMatchers.js
@@ -174,17 +174,6 @@ const makePatternKit = () => {
     // eslint-disable-next-line no-use-before-define
     GuardPayloadShapes[tag];
 
-  /**
-   * @typedef {Exclude<PassStyle, 'tagged'> |
-   *   'copySet' | 'copyBag' | 'copyMap' | keyof HelpersByMatchTag
-   * } Kind
-   * It is either a PassStyle other than 'tagged', or, if the underlying
-   * PassStyle is 'tagged', then the `getTag` value for tags that are
-   * recognized at the store level of abstraction. For each of those
-   * tags, a tagged record only has that kind if it satisfies the invariants
-   * that the store level associates with that kind.
-   */
-
   /** @type {Map<Kind, unknown>} */
   const singletonKinds = new Map([
     ['null', null],
@@ -1719,6 +1708,7 @@ const makePatternKit = () => {
     isPattern,
     getRankCover,
     M,
+    kindOf,
   });
 };
 
@@ -1736,6 +1726,7 @@ export const {
   isPattern,
   getRankCover,
   M,
+  kindOf,
 } = makePatternKit();
 
 MM = M;