headless

adjective

head·​less ˈhed-ləs How to pronounce headless (audio)
1
a
: having no head
b
: having the head cut off : beheaded
2
: having no chief
3
: lacking good sense or prudence : foolish
headlessness noun

Examples of headless in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
His mother allegedly discovered his headless body next to bottles of bleach and ammonia, according to a police report cited by 8 News Now, FOX 5 Las Vegas and the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Samira Asma-Sadeque, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2025 But a headless whitetail is a far more interesting proposition. Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 30 Oct. 2025 The headless ghost of Hooch Simpson supposedly still wanders the area that was once Skidoo, looking for his noggin. Graham Averill, Outside, 28 Oct. 2025 Another is a headless drummer, who was seen drumming around 1650 before the castle was attacked by Oliver Cromwell. Sophie Friedman, AFAR Media, 22 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for headless

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of headless was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Headless.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/headless. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.

Kids Definition

headless

adjective
head·​less ˈhed-ləs How to pronounce headless (audio)
1
: having no head
2
: having no chief
3
: lacking good sense or prudence : foolish
headlessness noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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