hard hat

noun

for sense 1 usually
ˈhärd-ˈhat How to pronounce hard hat (audio)
for senses 1b and 2
ˈhärd-ˌhat How to pronounce hard hat (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Lee pointed to two black tents filled with men in hard hats. Thessaly La Force, Travel + Leisure, 4 July 2025 Huffing and puffing and occasionally pausing briefly to catch their breath, the two utility workers, outfitted with safety glasses and hard hats, ultimately had to stop after more than five minutes, unable to break through the thick pipe with a large circular cutting device. Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 June 2025 The scene was a sea of orange safety jackets and hard hats, all standing in the building that the workers there call Highway One, on the other side of the rolling mill. Salena Zito, The Washington Examiner, 6 June 2025 The post included a photo featuring her wearing a red hard hat with her auburn curls flowing down her shoulders. Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 4 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hard hat

Word History

First Known Use

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of hard hat was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hard hat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hard%20hat. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

hard hat

noun
1
: a protective helmet worn especially by construction workers
2
: a construction worker

More from Merriam-Webster on hard hat

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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