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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In the book, he's fully masked with headgear with more of an industrial look. Jeff Spry, Space.com, 12 May 2025 Corso, known for his popular headgear segment, has been a fixture of the network’s college football coverage for 38 years. Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2025 Are there other examples of players wearing protective headgear in games? Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025 Her husband Justin, meanwhile, wore his usual bulbous silhouette and teeny headgear: in a large textured black fleece, a red hoodie, beige trousers, suede brown moccasins, and a tight gray beanie. Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 27 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for headgear

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Headgear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/headgear. Accessed 1 Jun. 2025.

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
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!