talking head

noun

: the televised head and shoulders shot of a person talking
also : a television personality who appears in such shots

Examples of talking head in a Sentence

The debate was followed by hours of talking heads analyzing the candidates' performances.
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.
Rankin forgoes talking heads entirely, instead remixing archival footage, animation, and music to trace Mulroney’s rise to power in what feels like an experimental vintage fever dream. — Katherine Brodsky, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026 Antetokounmpo wasted no time in starting to rave about the Heat culture, a phrase that has become a lightning rod for criticism from talking heads around the NBA — especially after the franchise slapped the word across shirts and jerseys. — ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026 Both rely on a series of talking heads to tell their stories. — Beandrea July, IndieWire, 9 Oct. 2026 By 2009, Jamal had become such a prolific talking head that the president of Somalia appointed him to serve at the United Nations. — Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 5 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for talking head

Word History

First Known Use

1964, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of talking head was in 1964

Rhymes for talking head

See All Rhymes for talking head

Browse Nearby Words

talking film
talking head
talking machine
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Talking head.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/talking%20head. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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