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

Workers in hard hats and high-visibility vests are busy at work on the coral stone buildings, cordoned off by aesthetically pleasing green temporary fences. —Nicola Chilton, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Sep. 2024

On the job, the man dons a hard hat and construction jacket — not to build up his neighborhood, but to tear it down. —J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 16 Aug. 2024

Outside a high-rise apartment tower her family company was building on Wilshire Boulevard, Jaime Lee pulled a hard hat, shatterproof glasses and safety vest from cargo space behind a car seat for one of her three young children. —Roger Vincent, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2024

Typically, the postgame locker room awards are hard hats and work gloves, fitting the blue-collar image and aspirations of the coach. —Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 10 Feb. 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