# helmet

/ˈhɛɫmət/ (US) · /hˈɛlmɪt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/helmet
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. protective headgear

noun · CEFR A2

a hard hat you wear to protect your head from injury.

For teachers: a piece of protective equipment worn on the head to prevent injury from impact, falling objects, or accidents.

- You must wear a helmet whenever you ride your bicycle on the road.
- Safety regulations require all personnel to wear a reinforced helmet while present on the construction site to mitigate the risk of head injuries.

### 2. anatomical/botanical part

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a part of a plant or animal that looks like a hard hat.

For teachers: a structure in certain plants or animals that resembles a protective head covering in shape or function.

- The flower has a small helmet that protects the seeds inside.
- The upper sepal of the monkshood flower forms a distinct helmet, which serves to protect the reproductive organs from heavy rain.

### 3. vulgar slang

noun · CEFR C2 · British English · Slang · Vulgar

a rude word for the end of a penis.

For teachers: a vulgar slang term referring to the glans penis.

- The comedian made a crude joke about a helmet that made the audience uncomfortable.
- The script was edited for television to remove several instances of 'helmet' used as a vulgar anatomical reference.

## Examples

- Always wear a helmet when you ride your bicycle.
- The construction workers are required to wear a safety helmet at all times while on the site.
- Modern racing helmets are engineered from lightweight carbon fiber to provide maximum impact resistance without compromising the driver's neck mobility during high-speed maneuvers.

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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.