headhunter

noun

head·​hunt·​er ˈhed-ˌhən-tər 

variants or less commonly head hunter or head-hunter

plural headhunters also head hunters or head-hunters

1

: a recruiter of personnel especially at the executive or elite level

Don't automatically assume that all personnel agencies, job recruiters and executive headhunters are working for your best interest.

—Essence

When a corporation enlists the aid of a headhunter to fill a top position, it usually means it has already looked at its internal talent pool …

—Mary Miles

2

sports : an athlete who intentionally seeks to physically intimidate or harm an opponent

[Hockey player Marty] McSorley has had only two other stick suspensions, eight and 12 years ago. … To paint McSorley as a ruthless headhunter is wrong.

—Barry Melrose

especially : a pitcher who deliberately throws balls at or near a batter's head

[Jaret] Wright, a Cleveland righthander who had hit five batters this season and triggered two bench-clearing brawls, was officially condemned as a beanball-throwing bully—a headhunter, as they're known in the hallways of baseball.

—Tom Verducci et al.

3

: one that engages in the act or custom of seeking out and decapitating enemies and preserving their heads as trophies

Until recently they were feared as war-like headhunters and maintained few relations with neighbouring tribes.

—World Religions

Examples of headhunter in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In addition, since headhunters now have a huge variety of profiles raining in for their open spots, each position can be filled with the most experienced and skillful person available. —Adriana Gattermayr, Forbes, 25 Nov. 2024

Meet Howard Lutnick, the Wall Street big wig who has become Trump’s headhunter in chief for a possible new administration. —Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 1 Nov. 2024

To their surprise, the island is home to an ancient tribe of headhunters guarding the land at all costs. —Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Oct. 2024

The ultimate in household head-hunting is to hire the headhunters themselves. —Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 12 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1800, in the meaning defined at sense 3