headgear

American  

[hed-geer] / ˈhɛdˌgɪər /

noun

1. any covering for the head, especially a hat, cap, bonnet, etc.

2. a protective covering for the head, as a steel helmet or football helmet.

3. the parts of a harness about the animal's head.

4. Orthodontics Informal. a device worn on the head and attached by wires and elastic bands to braces in the mouth, used to create backward tension in the process of repositioning protruding teeth.

5. Mining. a headframe and its machinery.

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headgear British  

/ ˈhɛdˌɡɪə /

noun

1. any head covering, esp a hat

2. any part of a horse's harness that is worn on the head

3. the hoisting mechanism at the pithead of a mine

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Etymology

Origin of headgear

First recorded in 1530–40; head + gear

Example Sentences

And, while a technical marvel, the Apple Vision Pro "spacial computing" headgear launched in 2024 with a price tag of $3,500 and has made little traction in the market.

From Barron's • Apr. 21, 2026

Part of the fault for the spinal injury lay with Tipping, who chose not to wear safety headgear before taking part in the training, McGuire argued.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 19, 2026

For centuries, appearing in public without the proper headgear was a faux pas.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 28, 2025

Melania Trump kicked off inauguration day with an outfit that has all the hallmarks of her favoured First Lady style: sharply cut, with spiked heels and a dramatic flourish via the headgear.

From BBC • Jan. 20, 2025

It was 1966, and Robert was a member of the elite Special Forces of the army, known as the Green Berets for their distinctive headgear.

From "Boots on the Ground: America's War in Vietnam" by Elizabeth Partridge

Related Words

• fedora
• helmet