beanie

American  

[bee-nee] / ˈbi ni /

noun

1. a close-fitting knit cap worn in cold weather.

2. 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.

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beanie British  

/ ˈbiːnɪ /

noun

1. a round close-fitting hat resembling a skullcap

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Etymology

Origin of beanie

An Americanism dating back to 1940–45; bean + -ie

Compare meaning

How does beanie compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• skullcap vs. beanie

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

The viral photograph of federal authorities apprehending little Liam Conejo Ramos in his bunny ear beanie and Spider-Man backpack stunned viewers across the country, filling them with horror and rage.

From Salon • Mar. 2, 2026

An oil painting depicting a smiling Pretti in glasses, a beanie and a scarf, was among the most recent.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 6, 2026

The patron was well covered, wearing a black hoodie, a medical mask and a tan beanie.

From BBC • Dec. 12, 2025

It’s shaped like a bear and wears a green Starbucks beanie.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 7, 2025

He crossed the room, pulling Javier’s beanie out of his back pocket.

From "Anger Is a Gift" by Mark Oshiro

Related Words

• beret