hard hat

noun \ usually -ˈhat for sense 1 and , -ˌhat for senses 1b and 2 \

|Updated on: 9 Jun 2018

Definition of hard hat

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

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Recent Examples of hard hat from the Web

Free hot dogs, snacks and beverages were available for visitors as were toy hard hats and other goodies for children.

— chuck fieldman, chicagotribune.com, "Clarendon Hills public works and police open house a big deal for kids," 20 May 2018
Cell phone video taken by Rogers shows the worker seated on the scaffolding about four stories up as a co-worker with a hard hat sits behind him, holding him with two arms.

— michelle hunter, NOLA.com, "'It sounded like an explosion': 6 shocked by power line at Metairie hotel," 19 Apr. 2018
The hard hat zone—the band of Earth where the debris could hit—is even bigger and less precise, anywhere from 43 degrees north to 43 degrees south of the equator.

— jeffrey kluger, Time, "China's Falling Space Station Won't Land On Your Head. Probably.," 28 Mar. 2018
On the concourse of the Milwaukee Bucks' still-under-construction arena, Budenholzer sat next to general manager Jon Horst staring out at a gaggle of media members and team staffers wearing hard hats, safety glasses and orange vests.

— matt velazquez, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Mike Budenholzer is ready to tackle head coaching job of Milwaukee Bucks," 21 May 2018
Donning hard hats and safety goggles, a group of young adults hefting large hammers enthusiastically smashed away at a wall in what later this summer will be the new home of GiGi’s Playhouse in Tinley Park.

— mike nolan, Daily Southtown, "GiGi's Playhouse in Tinley Park begins work on bigger location," 17 May 2018
Kensington Palace tweeted out photos of William, outfitted in his hard hat.

— hilary weaver, Vanities, "Prince William Prepares for the Royal Wedding by . . . Wearing a Hard Hat?," 15 May 2018
Just up the road, a team of volunteers in hard hats cut down oaks and bays damaged in last fall’s destructive fires.

— harriot manley, San Francisco Chronicle, "Volunteers, nonprofits reviving some California state parks," 9 May 2018
One recent sunny Wednesday morning, Kadee Porter, ACHD’s construction coordinator, surveyed the welter of heavy equipment, orange traffic signs and workers in fluorescent vests and hard hats.

— maria l. la ganga, idahostatesman, "'It's a record year.' Ninety ACHD road projects will test your patience and slow traffic | Idaho Statesman," 27 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hard hat.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of hard hat

15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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HARD HAT Defined for English Language Learners

hard hat

noun

Definition of hard hat for English Language Learners

: a hat that is worn by workers at a building site to protect their heads from falling objects

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