headlock

noun

head·​lock ˈhed-ˌläk How to pronounce headlock (audio)
: a hold in which a wrestler encircles an opponent's head with one arm

Examples of headlock in a Sentence

He had me in a headlock.
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.
Mubashir said he was put in a headlock by an ICE agent and put into a vehicle. CBS News, 11 Dec. 2025 According to his account, an ICE agent then placed him in a headlock and escorted him into a vehicle. Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025 Ritter is then seen placing the student in a headlock before shoving him into a wall. Leo Bertucci, Louisville Courier Journal, 3 Dec. 2025 The victim then placed the person in a headlock and the two fell to the ground. Kansas City Star, 25 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for headlock

Word History

First Known Use

1876, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of headlock was in 1876

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Headlock.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/headlock. Accessed 16 Dec. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!