headphone

noun

head·​phone ˈhed-ˌfōn 

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

Most other passengers were sleeping or wearing headphones, and no one appeared to have noticed her plight, the lawsuit said. —Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 28 Apr. 2025

Investigators are searching for the suspect, described as a man in his 20s or 30s wearing all black and black headphones. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Apr. 2025

These headphones shine for anyone balancing Zoom calls, playlists, and podcasts. —Shubham Yewale, PC Magazine, 23 Apr. 2025

Come June, Addison Rae fans will have one big reason to put their headphones on: Addison, the TikToker-turned-singer’s debut studio album, is officially on its way. —Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 23 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1908, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for headphone

• alone
• atone
• backbone
• bemoan
• bluestone
• breastbone
• brownstone
• capstone
• cheekbone
• condone
• curbstone
• cyclone

Kids Definition

headphone

noun

head·​phone ˈhed-ˌfōn 

: an earphone held over the ear by a band worn on the head

—usually used in plural