Hat vs. Bonnet — What's the Difference?

Used for both practical and fashion purposes.

Frequently made from soft materials like cotton or silk.

A covering for the head that often has a brim and can be made of various materials.

A soft hat that covers all the hair and ties under the chin, often worn by women.

Often embellished with items like bands, feathers, or pins.

Often seen in religious or historical contexts.

Can be designed without a brim, as in beanies or caps.

Historically used for warmth and modesty rather than fashion.

Comes in numerous styles to suit different climates and needs.

Lacks a wide brim and is close-fitting to frame the face.

A hat is a head covering which is worn for various reasons, including protection against weather conditions, ceremonial reasons such as university graduation, religious reasons, safety, or as a fashion accessory.In the past, hats were an indicator of social status. In the military, hats may denote nationality, branch of service, rank or regiment.

A woman's or child's hat tied under the chin and with a brim framing the face.

A covering for the head, especially one with a shaped crown and brim.

The hinged metal canopy covering the engine of a motor vehicle.

A head covering of distinctive color and shape worn as a symbol of office.

A cowl on a chimney.

The office symbolized by the wearing of such a head covering.

An additional canvas laced to the foot of a sail to catch more wind.

A role or office symbolized by or as if by the wearing of different hats

A hat of cloth or straw, often held in place by ribbons tied under the chin and traditionally worn by women and children.

To supply or cover with a hat.

(Scots) A brimless cap traditionally worn by men or boys.

A covering for the head, often in the approximate form of a cone, dome or cylinder closed at its top end, and sometimes having a brim and other decoration.

A removable metal plate over a machine part, such as a valve.

(figuratively) A particular role or capacity that a person might fill.

Chiefly British The hood of an automobile.

(figuratively) Any receptacle from which numbers/names are pulled out in a lottery.

A windscreen for a chimney.

The lottery or draw itself.

A cover for a fireplace.

(video games) A hat switch.

(Nautical) A strip of canvas laced to a fore-and-aft sail to increase sail area.

The háček symbol.

To put a bonnet on.

The caret symbol ^.

A type of hat, once worn by women or children, held in place by ribbons tied under the chin.

(internet slang) User rights on a website, such as the right to edit pages others cannot.

A traditional Scottish woollen brimless cap; a bunnet.

A student who is also the son of a nobleman (and so allowed to wear a hat instead of a mortarboard).

(by extension) The polishing head of a power buffer, often made of wool.

(transitive) To place a hat on.

The hinged cover over the engine of a motor car; a hood.

(transitive) To appoint as cardinal.

(nautical) A length of canvas attached to a fore-and-aft sail to increase the pulling power.

(intransitive) To shop for hats.

An accomplice of a gambler, auctioneer, etc., who entices others to bet or to bid.

Hot.

The second stomach of a ruminant.

A covering for the head; esp., one with a crown and brim, made of various materials, and worn by men or women for protecting the head from the sun or weather, or for ornament.

(historical) A ducat, an old Scottish coin worth 40 shillings.

Headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim

Anything resembling a bonnet (hat) in shape or use.

An informal term for a person's role;

A small defence work at a salient angle; or a part of a parapet elevated to screen the other part from enfilade fire.

Put on or wear a hat;

A metallic canopy, or projection, over an opening, as a fireplace, or a cowl or hood to increase the draught of a chimney, etc.

Furnish with a hat

A frame of wire netting over a locomotive chimney, to prevent escape of sparks.

A roofing over the cage of a mine, to protect its occupants from objects falling down the shaft.

In pumps, a metal covering for the openings in the valve chambers.

(mycology) A mushroom of the genus Mycena.

(transitive) To put a bonnet on.

(obsolete) To take off the bonnet or cap as a mark of respect; to uncover.

To pull the bonnet or cap down over the eyes of.

A headdress for men and boys; a cap.

A soft, elastic, very durable cap, made of thick, seamless woolen stuff, and worn by men in Scotland.

A covering for the head, worn by women, usually protecting more or less the back and sides of the head, but no part of the forehead. The shape of the bonnet varies greatly at different times; formerly the front part projected, and spread outward, like the mouth of a funnel.

Anything resembling a bonnet in shape or use

An additional piece of canvas laced to the foot of a jib or foresail in moderate winds.

The second stomach of a ruminating animal.

An accomplice of a gambler, auctioneer, etc., who entices others to bet or to bid; a decoy.

The metal cover or shield over the motor; predominantly British usage. In the U.S. it is called the hood.

To take off the bonnet or cap as a mark of respect; to uncover.

A hat tied under the chin

Protective covering consisting of a metal part that covers the engine;

Dress in a bonnet

Common materials for hats include straw, wool, felt, and leather.

Hats vary widely in design, including differences in brim width, material, and additional decorative elements.

The main purpose of a bonnet is to provide head coverage, historically for warmth and modesty, especially for women and children.

Someone might choose a bonnet for its traditional aesthetic, full head coverage, or for its historical significance in costume.

Formal occasions typically call for dress hats like fedoras, trilbies, or even top hats depending on the level of formality.

A hat is a head covering that can have various brim sizes and is made from diverse materials for functional or fashion purposes.

Today, bonnets can offer practical benefits such as warmth, especially in cooler climates, and are used in settings where preserving traditional dress is important.

Traditionally, bonnets are worn by women and children, but in historical reenactments or certain cultures, men might also wear bonnet-style headgear.

Hats are generally more versatile due to the wide range of styles and materials suitable for various occasions and weather conditions.

Hats have broad cultural significance indicating status or profession, while bonnets are more closely tied to historical and feminine modesty contexts.

While not mainstream, bonnets appear in fashion circles that value vintage or historical styles and are prominent in certain religious or cultural communities.

Historically, bonnets provided warmth and modesty but now they are more commonly seen in historical reenactments or among specific cultural groups.

Bonnets have a specific cultural relevance tied to historical dress and modesty, whereas hats have broader relevance across many aspects of society and history.

Yes, cultural events that focus on historical reenactment or periods like the Victorian era often feature bonnets as part of the customary attire.

Hats with wide brims, such as sun hats or Panama hats, are best for sun protection.