headword

noun

head·​word ˈhed-ˌwərd How to pronounce headword (audio)
1
: a word or term placed at the beginning (as of a chapter or an entry in an encyclopedia)
2

Examples of headword in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Often, in fact, that means using headwords and categories that are different from the actual words on the pages to which they’re linked. Lauren Kane, The New York Review of Books, 17 June 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'headword.' 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

1727, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of headword was in 1727

Dictionary Entries Near headword

Cite this Entry

“Headword.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/headword. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!