sweatband

IPA/ˈswetbænd/
IPA/ˈswetbænd/

sweatband — noun

  • sweatbandsingular
  • sweatbandsplural

1. a short piece of thick fabric that people wrap around their head or put around t

1.nounB1
Definition

a short piece of thick fabric that people wrap around their head or put around their wrist when playing sports, so that sweat is soaked up and does not run into their eyes or onto their hands

Example

Wei wiped his forehead with his sweatband before starting the second set of push-ups.

object of 'wipe' with possessive

Fatima puts on a fresh sweatband before her morning run in the park.

collocation: put on a sweatband

Common collocations
  • wear a sweatband
  • put on a sweatband
  • cotton sweatband
  • terry-cloth sweatband
  • pull a sweatband over your wrist
Synonyms
  • headband

    a general term for any band worn around the head; a headband may be decorative rather than functional

  • wristband

    a band worn on the wrist; can be a sweatband or a fashion accessory

Usage Note

Sweatbands come in two common forms: one worn around the head like a short headband, and another worn around the wrist like a wide bracelet. Both serve the same purpose during exercise.

2. a piece of leather or cloth fixed to the interior rim of a hat, intended to prot

2.nounB2
Definition

a piece of leather or cloth fixed to the interior rim of a hat, intended to protect the hat by keeping sweat from reaching the outer fabric

Example

Mr. Chen replaced the worn leather sweatband inside his favourite baseball cap.

collocation: leather sweatband

Anita checked her sun hat's sweatband before the hike to confirm it was still intact.

collocation: check / inspect the sweatband

Common collocations
  • leather sweatband
  • fabric sweatband
  • replace the sweatband
  • interior sweatband
  • sewn-in sweatband
Synonyms
  • hat lining

    a broader term that may refer to any interior fabric layer, not specifically the part that absorbs sweat

  • hatband

    a decorative band around the outside of a hat, not the functional inner sweatband

Usage Note

This sense refers specifically to the inner lining of a hat, not to a separate accessory. The sweatband is usually made of leather or a soft absorbent fabric and can be replaced when it wears out.

Common Mistakes

The hat has a red sweatband around the outside.
The hat has a red sweatband sewn inside the crown.
sweatband in this sense always refers to the interior lining.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All three words describe bands worn on the body, but they differ by function and position. A sweatband is specifically designed to absorb sweat during exercise and can be worn on the forehead or wrist — the material is usually thick and absorbent (cotton or terry cloth). A headband is a more general term for a band worn around the head; it can be made of any material (elastic, fabric, plastic) and may serve a decorative, functional, or religious purpose, not necessarily sweat absorption. A wristband is worn around the wrist and may be a sweatband, a fashion accessory (e.g., a silicone charity band), or a medical ID band. For example: 'Runners often wear a terry-cloth sweatband to keep sweat out of their eyes.' That same runner might also wear a colourful fabric headband for style, and a silicone wristband to support a charity — but those serve different purposes.

sweatband ↗headbandwristband ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • inside the sweatband
  • around the sweatband

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

Sweatband is a compound noun formed from two Old English words: 'sweat' (from Old English swætan, meaning 'to perspire') and 'band' (from Old English bend, meaning 'something that binds or ties'). The word first appeared in the mid-19th century, around the time when sports and outdoor activities became more popular and people began using fabric strips specifically to manage sweat. The two senses developed shortly after: the wearable accessory sense (around the 1880s) and the hat-lining sense (early 1900s) as hat manufacturing incorporated this practical feature.

First known use

1862

1862, in the meaning defined at sense 1