helmets

IPA/ˈhel.mət/
KK[hˈɛlməts]IPA/ˈhel.mət/

helmets — noun

  • helmetssingular
  • helmetsesplural

1. a hard hat that people wear to protect their head from injury when riding a bicy

1.nounB1
Definition

a hard hat that people wear to protect their head from injury when riding a bicycle or motorcycle, playing sports such as skiing or American football, or working on a construction site

Example

Jack always wears a helmet when he rides his bicycle to school.

wear a helmet — standard collocation for protective use

The construction supervisor told Nora that her helmet was not fastened properly.

helmet + fastened — common verb for securing straps

Common collocations
  • bicycle helmet
  • motorcycle helmet
  • cycling helmet
  • safety helmet
  • wear a helmet
  • put on a helmet
  • fasten a helmet
  • helmet strap
Synonyms
  • hard hat

    specifically for construction or industrial work; not used for bicycle or motorcycle helmets

  • crash helmet

    slightly more formal; used especially for motorcycle helmets in British English

  • safety helmet

    broader term covering all types of protective headgear, including construction and sports

Grammar Patterns

helmet + verb (is designed / protects)

wear + a/the helmet

Usage Note

In everyday conversation, 'helmet' alone usually refers to a bicycle or motorcycle helmet. For other types, specify: 'safety helmet' (construction), 'ski helmet', or 'football helmet'.

Common Mistakes

I bought a new hat for my motorcycle.
I bought a new helmet for my motorcycle.
A 'hat' is made of soft material and does not protect the head from impact.
Don't forget to ware your helmet.
Don't forget to wear your helmet.
'Ware' is not a word in English; the correct verb is 'wear'.

2. a head covering made of metal or other strong material, worn by soldiers in the

2.nounB2
Definition

a head covering made of metal or other strong material, worn by soldiers in the past as part of their armor

Example

The museum displayed a steel helmet that a knight wore in battle during the Middle Ages.

helmet + worn by + knight — describes the historical wearer and context

Jisoo carefully lifted the bronze helmet from its glass case at the archaeological exhibition.

Common collocations
  • steel helmet
  • bronze helmet
  • knight's helmet
  • Roman helmet
  • battle helmet
  • visor
  • crest
Synonyms
  • headpiece

    a more general term; can refer to any head covering in a historical or ceremonial context

  • war helmet

    emphasizes the military function; less common in everyday use

Grammar Patterns

helmet + made of + material

helmet + worn by + person/group

Usage Note

Most common in contexts of ancient or medieval history, museums, and historical reenactments. For modern military headgear, 'combat helmet' or 'military helmet' is more common.

Common Mistakes

The knight wore a safety helmet into battle.
The knight wore a steel helmet into battle.
'Safety helmet' refers to modern protective gear, not historical armor.
Roman soldiers wore hats made of metal.
Roman soldiers wore helmets made of metal.
'Hat' is too general and suggests a soft, casual head covering, not protective armor.

Word family

  • helmet
    nounB1
  • helmeted
    adjectiveC1
  • unhelmeted
    adjectiveC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

These terms all describe protective headgear but are used in different contexts. 'Helmet' is the broadest and most common word, covering everything from bicycle helmets to motorcycle and sports helmets. 'Hard hat' refers specifically to the rigid headgear worn on construction sites and industrial workplaces — it is not used for cycling or sports. 'Crash helmet' is more formal and typical of British English; it emphasizes protection during high-impact crashes and is most often used for motorcycle helmets. 'Safety helmet' is a general, slightly more technical term that can describe any helmet designed for protection, especially in occupational settings. For example, you would say 'Put on your safety helmet before entering the factory' but 'Don't forget your helmet for the bike ride.'

helmet ↗hard hatcrash helmetsafety helmet

Common collocations

Nouns

  • bicycle helmet
  • motorcycle helmet
  • cycling helmet
  • safety helmet
  • crash helmet
  • helmet strap
  • helmet lining

Adverbs

Phrases

  • wear a helmet
  • put on a helmet
  • take off a helmet
  • fasten a helmet
  • strap on a helmet

Prepositions

  • with a helmet
  • without a helmet
  • inside the helmet

Etymology

FrankishOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'helmet' entered English through Old French 'helmet', a smaller form of 'helme' (helmet), which came from Frankish 'helm' meaning 'protective covering'. The same Germanic root gave rise to the modern German 'Helm' and Old English 'helm' (protection, covering). The word has been used in English since around the 1400s to describe a protective head covering, originally for soldiers and knights.

First known use

15th century

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1