hard hat

noun

 usually  for sense 1 and -ˈhat,

for senses 1b and 2

-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

Despite this, he was dressed in firefighter clothing and was wearing a hard hat with a lamp, deputies said. —Helena Wegner, Sacramento Bee, 12 July 2024

Dozens of people dressed in flame-resistant clothing—mustard-yellow shirts and pine-green pants—paused along a forest service road to adjust their hard hats, strap propane tanks onto their backs, and test the torches connected to them: long, thin metal rods with a stream of flaming gas at one end. —Ferris Jabr, The Atlantic, 25 June 2024

Best travel insurance Today, visitors can don hard hats and headlamps and ride a small train down into the Copper Queen Mine. —Michael Salerno, USA TODAY, 21 June 2024

Remember that helmets and sports equipment hold in heat: Construction workers often have to wear hard hats, but athletes don’t always need to practice with shoulder pads and helmets, especially in high heat. —Susan Yeargin, The Conversation, 20 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

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

Kids Definition

hard hat

noun

1

: a protective helmet worn especially by construction workers

2

: a construction worker