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

There are plenty of I/O options, including a USB-C port and a 3.5mm headphone jack. —Erik Kain, Forbes, 21 Jan. 2025

Not entirely sure where to look, what to do with his hands or whether to wear the headphones he had been given for translation, a 15-minute press conference with the world’s media soon commenced. —Jordan Campbell, The Athletic, 20 Jan. 2025

The Apple AirPods Max aren’t just headphones—they’re an experience. —Juhi Wadia, PCMAG, 17 Jan. 2025

Dyson Digital Slim Cordless Vacuum Cleaner Best Long Weekend Apple Deals In addition to the headphones listed above, Amazon dropped even more must-see deals on Apple Watches, iPads, and more gadgets from the brand — including new releases. —Clara McMahon, People.com, 17 Jan. 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