beanie
Americannoun
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beanies
plural
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a close-fitting knit cap worn in cold weather.
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a small cap, brimless or with a short bill, often brightly colored, constructed of triangular pieces of cloth joined at the top by a button and popularized in the early 20th century as worn by college freshmen.
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of beanie
Compare meaning
How does beanie compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
A beanie is a small, round, brimless hat. It was fashionable for boys to wear beanies in the first half of the 20th century. Traditionally, a beanie was a flat, close-fitting hat without a brim, sometimes also called a skullcap. In the early 1900s, adult workers and young men commonly wore beanies, which eventually evolved into today's baseball cap. The hat was probably named beanie after the bean-sized, cloth-covered button in the center of the cap. In the UK, a beanie is simply a knitted stocking cap.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
How to get the look: Who, What, Wear, external says think about accessories - scarfs, crochet beanie caps or eye-catching hair clips, charms or cuffs.
From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2026
Sporting black sunglasses and a trademark beanie, the 27-year-old identifies as a queer artist, highlighting the need for expression and acceptance throughout his music.
From Barron's ● May 15, 2026
And his gelled hair spike will be covered with a beanie.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 17, 2026
Good has become a genuine martyr, inspiring people and making them realize that they can make a significant contribution with the power of a camera phone and a red beanie cap.
From Salon ● Jan. 14, 2026
He tugged the beanie off his head and ran his hand through his hair.
From "A Very Large Expanse of Sea" by Tahereh Mafi
Volunteers walked around venues in bright yellow branded puffers, while Charli xcx fans rocked Brat Green beanies from the premiere of “The Moment,” one of three films she appeared in.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 31, 2026
I followed a small group of South Asian aunties in industrial-grade puffers and bright yellow “Zohran” campaign beanies, which smartly functioned equally as political statements and survival gear.
From Slate ● Jan. 3, 2026
Trouser suits were donned with sequins, while glittery beanies and diamond-encrusted clutch bags were also a highlight.
From BBC ● Jan. 31, 2025
Douglas said his mother was a churchgoer and liked to go on walks as well as crochet and knit, sometimes making sweaters, dresses and beanies for her grandchildren.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 27, 2024
They wear their little beanies and call each other “brother.”
From "X: A Novel" by Ilyasah Shabazz
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
