helmet

noun

hel·​met ˈhel-mət 

1

: a covering or enclosing headpiece of ancient or medieval armor see armor illustration

2

: any of various protective head coverings usually made of a hard material to resist impact

3

: something resembling a helmet

helmeted

ˈhel-mə-təd 

adjective

helmetlike

ˈhel-mət-ˌlīk 

adjective

Examples of helmet in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

One guy had ripped off the horn from a plastic Viking helmet and was using it to chug beers. — Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 30 June 2026

And even though Georgia law does not require this, all cyclists and scooterists should wear helmets. — Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 5 July 2026

The arm had a tattoo of a skeleton holding a Green Bay Packers helmet and another with an unknown letter or number. — Jeramie Bizzle, CBS News, 1 July 2026

Contreras has always been an overheating boiler of a ballplayer, with a history of arguing with umpires, throwing bats and helmets, and willing to charge the mound over any slight, real or imagined. — Steve Buckley, New York Times, 2 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Middle French, diminutive of helme helmet, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English helm helmet, Old High German helan to conceal — more at hell

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing helmet

• crash helmet
• pith helmet

Kids Definition

helmet

noun

hel·​met ˈhel-mət 

1

: a covering or enclosing headpiece of armor

2

: any of various protective head coverings usually made of a hard material

helmetlike

-ˌlīk 

adjective