# hatter

/ˈhætɝ/ (US) · /hˈætɐ/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hatter
Updated: 2026-05-26

## Definition

a person who makes or sells hats. This word is also used in a funny way to describe someone who is acting crazy, like the character in Alice in Wonderland.

For teachers: a person who makes, sells, or repairs hats. Often used in a literary or idiomatic sense to refer to a person who is eccentric or mad, particularly in reference to Lewis Carroll's 'Mad Hatter'.

## Examples

- The hatter showed me several different styles of felt hats.
- In the nineteenth century, a skilled hatter could earn a good living by crafting high-quality top hats for the upper class.
- The local hatter had been in business for over a century, passing down the intricate art of millinery to his grandchildren who now manage the shop.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.