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

Jo Brand squashes one of hers, David Baddiel tries to eat his, while Rose Matafeo and Ed Gamble rip theirs to shreds and Katy Wix overestimates the naturalism of holding a hard hat under one arm for an extended period of time. —Matthew Jackson, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2025

Soon, a throng of people wearing neon vests and hard hats gathers near it. —Brian Hamilton, New York Times, 27 Aug. 2025

Trump himself visited the construction site with Powell, the two of them engaging in a bizarre argument on live TV, wearing hard hats and looking at construction plans. —Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 5 Aug. 2025

Two men wearing blue hard hats, who worked for the ferry operator, were on hand. —Adam Iscoe, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 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