pillbox

noun

pill·​box ˈpil-ˌbäks 

1

: a box for pills

especially : a shallow round box of pasteboard

2

: a small low concrete emplacement for machine guns and antitank weapons

3

: a small round hat without a brim

specifically : a woman's shallow hat with a flat crown and straight sides

Examples of pillbox in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Transcending Party Lines Consider this evolution: Jackie Kennedy's pillbox hat made it into next day's papers. —Gemma Allen, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025

The game of pushing the boundaries was entrusted to headwear, from beanies to cowboy hats and sculptural pillboxes. —Alex Badia, WWD, 22 Jan. 2025

Ivanka Trump attended in an emerald green skirt suit with a matching pillbox hat, and carried a black Lady Dior bag. —Vogue, 20 Jan. 2025

Though traditionally the evening’s inaugural ball was the place for making a grand entrance, Kennedy’s most notable choice of the day was her pillbox hat: a modern, elegant silhouette in an arresting powder blue by then-emerging milliner Halston. —Jacqui Palumbo, CNN, 19 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1702, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

pillbox

noun

pill·​box ˈpil-ˌbäks 

1

: a small usually shallow box for pills

2

: a small low fortification for machine guns and antitank weapons

3

: a small round hat without a brim