headset

noun

head·​set ˈhed-ˌset 

plural headsets

1

: a support framework with attached electronic devices that is worn on the head: such as

a

: an earphone or a pair of earphones held on the head by a band

Earbuds, tiny round speakers which fit snugly into the ear, are near-invisible as they don't use a headband, but they don't fit every ear. The traditional banded headsets either completely enclose the ear or just sit gently over the opening.

—Joe Brown

Using discreet headsets with single earpiece headphones, the free audio-described tour will be delivered by a professional audio describer.

—Lincoln Tan

especially : such a headset that also includes an attached microphone

All you need for this is a hands-free headset for your telephone. Once you're properly equipped, you can make personal phone calls while simultaneously using your computer for personal entertainment.

—Paul McFedries

b

: virtual reality hardware (such as goggles and headphones) that is held on the head by one or more bands or straps

… stitches together multiple images to create a panoramic, 360-degree environment, and provides a virtual-reality headset to put you in the middle of a real video. You merely glance left or right, up or down, to see a different portion of the 3-D world you're in.

—Jake Kirchner

2

: the support framework of a headset

Google Glass—the wearable computer mounted in the headset of a pair of glasses—was launched by the data giant in February 2013.

—David McNamee

Examples of headset in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The kit includes a booklet with test tubes, chemicals to play with (that won't hurt anybody, of course), as well as a cardboard VR headset that can be paired with a phone to find instructional videos from Mr. Nye himself. —Simon Hill, Wired News, 11 July 2025

Apple hasn't iterated on its Vision Pro hardware since launching it in early 2024 for $3,499, opting instead to refine the headset with a steady stream of software updates. —ArsTechnica, 9 July 2025

Unsurprisingly, this chaos is being orchestrated by Lex, high up in his glass tower at LuthorCorp, with a Bluetooth headset and a team of black-uniformed techies at keyboards carrying out his commands. —David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 8 July 2025

Apple alleges former employee stole trade secrets Apple is suing a former senior product design engineer for allegedly stealing files with proprietary information about the $3,500 Vision Pro headset before leaving the company. —Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 3 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1900, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for headset

• abet
• asset
• baguette
• banquette
• barbette
• beget
• beset
• brevet
• briquette
• brunet
• brunette
• burette

Kids Definition

headset

noun

head·​set -ˌset 

: a pair of headphones