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

Shop even more travel-friendly headphones under $100 at Amazon below, including a pair of headphones that fold up for easy packing. —Clint Davis, People.com, 23 Mar. 2025

Another Thunderbolt 4 port joins an audio or headphone jack on the right side. —PCMAG, 21 Mar. 2025

Get in on The Silent Party (dancing in group with headphones on) action at 17th Street Market. —Karri Peifer, Axios, 20 Mar. 2025

Below, find everything from carry-ons to over-ear headphones, portable chargers, and more, starting at $8. —Rylee Johnston, Travel + Leisure, 18 Mar. 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