What does beret mean?
A beret is a soft, round, flat-crowned cap without a brim, usually made of felted wool and worn snugly on the head, often tilted to one side. Originating among the shepherds of southern France and northern Spain, it became internationally associated with French style, particularly the stereotypical image of the Parisian artist or intellectual. Beyond fashion, the beret has been adopted by many armies worldwide, where its color signals a unit's identity — the green beret of U.S. Special Forces and the maroon beret of paratroopers being famous examples. The word is a straightforward countable noun with the plural 'berets'. In everyday usage it appears most often in descriptions of dress, costume, and military uniform. Its enduring appeal lies in this double life: simultaneously a symbol of bohemian artistry and of disciplined military service, making 'beret' a compact word rich with cultural resonance.
nounA round, flat cap of soft felted wool or similar fabric with a narrow brimless band around the head, worn tilted to one side.
- A round, flat, soft cap of wool or felt, typically worn tilted to one side, associated especially with France, artists, and military units.
"She tucked her sketchbook under her arm and pulled her black beret low over one eye."
"The artist wore a paint-flecked beret as she worked by the Seine."
"He was awarded the maroon beret after completing airborne training."
Regular plural; used both for multiple individual caps and collectively for groups identified by their headgear (e.g. 'the green berets').
"The stall sold striped berets in every colour of the rainbow."
The Green Berets got their name from the headgear itself — the U.S. Army Special Forces adopted the distinctive cap in the 1950s, and President Kennedy made it official.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of beret
The word entered English in the early nineteenth century from French 'béret', which referred to the flat cap long worn by peasants and shepherds in the Pyrenees region. The ultimate origin of the French word is uncertain, though it has been linked to Late Latin 'birrus', a term for a hooded cloak or hood, which would make the English 'biretta' — the square cap worn by clergy — a distant relative. Its spread into English coincided with the growing romantic association between the cap and French rural and artistic life.
How beret is actually used
Neutral in register. The word carries strong cultural connotations — artistic bohemianism (especially Parisian), military elite units (the green beret, maroon beret), and political movements (Che Guevara's iconic image). The spelling is always single 'r' despite the pronunciation.