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

One day earlier this month, workers in white hard hats bustled around the I-beams supporting the house and ducked under basement rafters that had been in place for almost 300 years. —Michael E. Ruane The Washington Post, arkansasonline.com, 20 Oct. 2024

During the tour, guests and guides wear hard hats and take an elevator down for about two minutes. —David Matthews, The Mercury News, 11 Oct. 2024

Family of Black Texas Student Suspended by School Over His Locs Is Suing Governor, Attorney General Per the complaint, Harvey offered to trim or style his hair in a different way, wear his hair in a wrap or buy a different hard hat so that safety wouldn’t be an issue. —Brian Brant, People.com, 1 Oct. 2024

Visitors wear hard hats and headlamps and ride a mine train on the tour, where guides describe the mining experience. —Michael Salerno, The Arizona Republic, 9 Sep. 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