headquarters

noun

head·​quar·​ters ˈhed-ˌkwȯ(r)-tərz 

-ˌkȯr-,

(ˈ)hed-ˈkwȯ(r),

-ˈkȯr-

plural in form but singular or plural in construction

1

: a place from which a commander performs the functions of command

2

: the administrative center of an enterprise

Synonyms

• command
• seat

Examples of headquarters in a Sentence

the headquarters of the newly established United States government was in New York City, the nation's first capital

the scout went straight to the large tent in the center of the camp, correctly assuming that it served as the division's headquarters

Recent Examples on the Web

Yonhap said Thursday’s raid focused on the headquarters of the military’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, which reportedly agreed to cooperate with the investigation. —Amanda Gerut, Fortune Asia, 12 Dec. 2024

The government has sold off other public sites of memory, including part of La Perla, a former torture and execution center in the city of Córdoba, and an old army infantry headquarters in the province of Corrientes. —Joshua Hammer, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Dec. 2024

State and local officials convened at a closed-door meeting Wednesday morning at the New Jersey State Police headquarters with representatives from the Department of Homeland Security to address the matter, according to several officials in attendance. —Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 11 Dec. 2024

The large warehouse was reportedly located at the headquarters of a military division near Damascus that was commanded by Assad’s brother Maher. —Tim Lister, CNN, 11 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1622, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

headquarters

singular or plural noun

head·​quar·​ters ˈhed-ˌkwȯ(r)t-ərz 

(ˈ)hed-ˈkwȯ(r)t-ərz

1

: a place from which a commander exercises command

2

: the governing and directing center of an organization