headset

noun

head·​set ˈhed-ˌset How to pronounce headset (audio)
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 Subjects were asked to use the headset for an hour every day for six months. Emily Mullin, WIRED, 6 Mar. 2024 Last year, Tim Cook argued that the expenditure was warranted, since Apple is venturing into entirely new fields like machine learning, AI, and virtual reality-ware like the Vision Pro headsets, not to mention ongoing investments in chip technology. Samanth Subramanian, Quartz, 2 Mar. 2024 This is even though there isn’t conclusive evidence, or enough research done yet, to say whether using the headset negatively impacts children’s vision. Victoria Song, The Verge, 28 Feb. 2024 If you’ve been intrigued by the Apple Vision Pro, but haven’t yet committed to buying the headset, one airline will soon give you the chance to test-drive—er, pilot?—the new technology. Tori Latham, Robb Report, 27 Feb. 2024 The company also recently launched the Vision Pro headset — its first new product category in almost a decade — and has built up that business. Mark Gurman, Fortune, 27 Feb. 2024 The $3,500 headset allows users to see a variety of apps and content while interacting with the real world. Patrick Smith, NBC News, 20 Feb. 2024 After the recent release of Apple’s new headset, Vision Pro, Disney Plus announced that users will be able to watch TV, including sports games, in VR. Tyler Moebius, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024 Reviewers say the device is smaller and more comfortable than earlier Meta headsets. Clare Duffy, CNN, 14 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'headset.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1900, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of headset was in 1900

Dictionary Entries Near headset

Cite this Entry

“Headset.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/headset. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

headset

noun
head·​set -ˌset How to pronounce headset (audio)
: a pair of headphones

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