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

Bose QuietComfort Over-the-ear Headphones $349 $249 at Amazon A must-have for any traveler, these noise-canceling headphones block out distractions and provide immersive sound quality, making flights and commutes far more enjoyable. —Samantha Leal, Travel + Leisure, 14 Feb. 2025

Some toys, such as this LeapPad Academy Kids’ Learning Tablet, have headphone ports, bringing additional peace to the household. —Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2025

Comfortable, with punchy bass and bright highs, these headphones support spatial audio with head tracking to personalize Dolby Atmos audio. —Jade Chung-Lee, PCMAG, 13 Feb. 2025

The additional pieces make for a tighter fit of the headphones on your head, which is ideal for me because the AirPods Max tend to slide off my head. —Brenda Stolyar, WIRED, 13 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1908, in the meaning defined above

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