hard hat

noun

for sense 1 usually

ˈhärd-ˈhat 

for senses 1b and 2

ˈhärd-ˌhat 

1

a

: a protective hat made of rigid material (such as metal or fiberglass) and worn especially by construction workers

b

: a construction worker

2

: a conservative who is intolerant of opposing views

Examples of hard hat in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

His Cabinet gathered in the Rose Garden alongside supporters wearing hard hats and reflective vests—a stagy reference to all the manufacturing jobs that would presumably be flooding back to U.S. soil. —Antonia Hitchens, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2025

While hard hats were not required, the team donned pads for the first time as the players pushed through the first three practices, emphasizing the fundamentals and instilling a sense of effort. —Matt Murschel, Orlando Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2025

There’s no ambiguity, no pretense, just a lunch pail and a hard hat. —Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 26 Mar. 2025

One of the suspects was wearing a neon yellow construction worker jacket and white hard hat at the time, police said. —Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 6 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for hard hat

• begat
• bobcat
• chitchat
• doormat
• ducat
• eclat
• format
• hazmat
• muskrat
• nonfat
• polecat
• thereat

Kids Definition

hard hat

noun

1

: a protective helmet worn especially by construction workers

2

: a construction worker