headgear

noun

head·​gear ˈhed-ˌgir How to pronounce headgear (audio)
1
: a covering or protective device for the head
2
: a harness for a horse's head

Examples of headgear in a Sentence

The law requires cyclists to wear protective headgear. Her preferred form of headgear is a big, floppy hat.
Recent Examples on the Web Mourners filed past tables laden with memories: photos of Allen with his wife and their two young children, an Odessa High School wrestling singlet and headgear, a football jersey, mementos memorializing Allen’s career in law enforcement. Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 8 Mar. 2024 Patrick Mahomes' helmet Apparently modern headgear doesn't react too well to subzero temperatures. Nate Davis, USA TODAY, 14 Jan. 2024 Being hard to classify, they were occasionally lumped in with punk bands by the music press, despite the uniformity of their yellow hazmat suits and headgear suggesting the opposite of anarchy. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Jan. 2024 The manufacturer of the helmet said the headgear did its job. Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 19 Jan. 2024 For a brief few weeks, buck and bull are without any headgear. Scott Bestul, Field & Stream, 10 Jan. 2024 Standing in the bleachers of M&T Bank Stadium in Maryland with the field stretching out in the background, Swift hugs a smiling Brittany as the two pose in their triumphant headgear. Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 31 Jan. 2024 Butting one fragment of skin, makeup, hair and headgear up against another, Sherman dispenses with the capacity of Photoshop to smooth out edges. Nancy Princenthal, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2024 Dak wears a visor on his helmet, but with all the water beading on the visor, the equipment staff make a quick change to Dak’s headgear in the second quarter by removing the visor. Kristi Scales, Dallas News, 11 Sep. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'headgear.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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

Dictionary Entries Near headgear

Cite this Entry

“Headgear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/headgear. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

headgear

noun
head·​gear -ˌgi(ə)r How to pronounce headgear (audio)
1
: a covering (as a hat or helmet) for the head
2
: harness for a horse's head

More from Merriam-Webster on headgear

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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