headphone

noun

head·​phone ˈhed-ˌfōn How to pronounce headphone (audio)
plural headphones
: an earphone held over the ear by a band worn on the head
—usually plural
So for the gamer to gain that "edge," he must have the best mouse, the smoothest mouse pad or the most sensitive headphones.—Chris Yong
Strapping on cushy headphones the size of loaves of bread, I'd repeatedly listen to Mingus' "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat" and the music of artists such as Jelly Roll Morton and Billie Holiday.—Robert Wilder
also : a small earphone inserted into the ear : earbud
in-ear headphones

Examples of headphone in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The category also includes wireless headphones like AirPods and the Apple Watch. — Kif Leswing, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2026 Even after Hammami was tied up (passengers used headphone cords and plastic zip ties), the passengers and crew were in danger. — Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026 Available CabinWatch lets parents see rear passengers on the dashboard screen, while CabinTalk pipes the driver’s voice through rear speakers or connected headphones. — Chris Hardesty, AJC.com, 9 Oct. 2026 For noise cancellation or soothing audio, headphones or earbuds do the job. — Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 9 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for headphone

Word History

First Known Use

1908, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of headphone was in 1908

Rhymes for headphone

See All Rhymes for headphone

Browse Nearby Words

headpenny
headphone
headpiece
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Headphone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/headphone. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

headphone

noun
head·​phone ˈhed-ˌfōn How to pronounce headphone (audio)
: an earphone held over the ear by a band worn on the head
—usually used in plural

More from Merriam-Webster on headphone

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about headphone

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