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.
That will further expand how many devices can receive audio from a single dongle but is dependent on wireless headphones fully supporting that Auracast feature, and not many currently do. — Andrew Liszewski, The Verge, 27 Oct. 2026 Get it now for $199, and save 33% on these one-of-a-kind headphones. — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 26 Oct. 2026 There’s even a handy pocket to hold your smartphone, headphones, and other tiny in-flight essentials, and its plush material is cozy to snuggle up to. — Kristy Alpert, Travel + Leisure, 25 Oct. 2026 Similarly, Jonathan Franzen writes in dark room with earplugs and noise cancelling headphones blasting pink noise (a deeper, more balanced version of white noise). — Literary Hub, 23 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 1 Nov. 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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