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

Bongino has also accused the FBI itself of involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, and particularly the placement of pipe bombs outside of the Democratic National Committee and Republican National Committee headquarters. —Nick McMillan, NPR, 3 Mar. 2025

The spacecraft landed at approximately 3:36 a.m. ET, sparking cheers from the control room and a crowd gathered outside Firefly Aerospace's headquarters in Austin, Texas, to celebrate the milestone. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 2 Mar. 2025

However, after receiving thousands of items as designers like Anine Bing dropped off dozens of boxes and celebrities like Annette Bening giving pieces from her own closet, the guild held a swap meet at its Burbank headquarters to raise even more money for fire victims. —Katie Campione, Deadline, 1 Mar. 2025

Ayala Land will buy three hectares of ABS-CBN’s 4.4-hectare headquarters and pay in installments, the media company said. —Ian Sayson, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1622, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for headquarters

• exporters
• hindquarters
• importers
• reporters
• supporters
• transporters
• mortars
• porters
• quarters
• sorters

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