headgear

American  

[hed-geer] / ˈhɛdˌgɪər /

noun

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

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

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

4. Orthodontics Informal. a device worn on the head heads 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

Aisha adjusted her beige veil over her circular-shaped headgear as a matchmaker scrolled through rows of dozens of pictures on a computer to find a man she could be interested in as a potential match.

From Barron's • Feb. 13, 2026

If the thieves who dropped Empress Eugenie’s crown outside the Louvre during this year’s heist, sparked an interest in jeweled headgear, try this encyclopedic guide to the world’s most famous tiaras.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 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

The stores are your go-to for Tiana-themed plushies, headgear and toys, including an interactive and wearable light-up firefly.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 14, 2024

Former jockey Morris Griffin, who was paralyzed in a 1946 racing fall, likened his headgear to a yarmulke.

From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand

Related Words

• fedora
• helmet