Headgear is any kind of covering, protection, or decoration worn on the head. The word includes everything from baseball caps and winter hats to helmets, crowns, and traditional ceremonial pieces.

Different types of headgear serve different purposes. A bicycle helmet protects your skull if you fall. A football helmet cushions blows during tackles. A chef's hat (called a toque) keeps hair out of food. A hard hat shields construction workers from falling objects. A crown symbolizes royal authority. A graduation cap marks academic achievement.

Some headgear identifies people's roles or professions: a firefighter's helmet, a judge's wig in British courts, or a nurse's cap. Other headgear expresses cultural or religious identity, like a Sikh turban or a Jewish yarmulke.

The word can also refer specifically to orthodontic devices worn on the head and attached to braces, used to guide jaw growth and straighten teeth. When an orthodontist prescribes headgear, they usually mean a wire-and-strap apparatus worn for several hours each day.

People throughout history have worn headgear for warmth, status, protection, style, or tradition. What you wear on your head often tells others something about who you are or what you're doing.