Meaning & use
headgear
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Meanings
noununcountable
Things worn on the head, such as hats, helmets, or caps.
Grammar: Uncountable: no plural form. Use 'a piece of headgear' for one item.
Patterns
- wear headgear
- protective headgear
- a piece of headgear
Workers on the site must wear protective headgear at all times.
She packed some warm headgear for the winter trip.
The traditional headgear for the ceremony is a colorful cap.
noununcountablespecialist
The equipment worn on a horse's head, especially the bridle and bit.
Grammar: Uncountable, used in horse riding contexts.
Patterns
- horse's headgear
- adjust the headgear
The rider checked the horse's headgear before mounting.
A well-fitted headgear is essential for controlling the horse.
Common combinations
- protective headgear
- Cyclists should always wear protective headgear.
- wear headgear
- In some sports, players must wear headgear.
- a piece of headgear
- He bought a new piece of headgear for the expedition.
- traditional headgear
- The dancers wore traditional headgear.
Synonyms and how they differ
Commonly confused: headgear or headphone?
headgear vs headphone
Headphones are for listening to audio; headgear is clothing or equipment worn on the head.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'headgear' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Headgear' is uncountable, so 'a piece of headgear' is correct. 'A new headgear' is wrong because 'a' cannot be used with an uncountable noun. 'The headgear are' is wrong because it is uncountable and takes a singular verb. 'Headgear shoes' is nonsensical.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “headgear”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.