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Definition of beanie

beanie

/ˈbiːni/
bean · ie

Plural:beanies
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beanie Lexical Profile

beanie Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A close-fitting, knitted winter hat worn to keep the head and ears warm.

Example

"She pulled a thick wool beanie over her ears before stepping out into the freezing wind."


2

North American A small, round skullcap, traditionally made of felt panels and sometimes topped with a novelty propeller, historically worn by children and university freshmen.

Example

"Old photographs from the 1950s show college freshmen wearing brightly colored beanies during their orientation week."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for beanie

Word Nuance & Usage

In Canada, this type of knitted winter hat is almost exclusively referred to as a 'toque' (or 'tuque'), whereas 'beanie' is the standard term in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia.

• Rhymes for beanie

Word Origin & Etymology

Originated in early 20th-century American English. The term derives from 'bean,' a slang word for 'head,' combined with the diminutive suffix '-ie'. It originally referred to a seamed felt skullcap worn by schoolboys and college freshmen.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020

Cite this Entry


Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Beanie. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/beanie
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