earphone

noun ear·phone \ ˈir-ˌfōn \

|Updated on: 25 Jul 2018

Definition of earphone

: a device that converts electrical energy into sound waves and is worn over or inserted into the ear

See earphone defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of earphone from the Web

Thankfully, true wireless earphones exist and these ones from Anker are a great choice.

— samantha gordon, USA TODAY, "These are the 5 best Amazon deals you can get right now," 2 May 2018
Dishonest boys have a harder time than girls, who often aren’t checked and sometimes hide earphones under their veils.

— The Economist, "Why some countries are turning off the internet on exam days," 5 July 2018
Both of these sets come with the second-generation PlayStation VR camera, which added HDR passthrough and built-in earphones.

— jeff dunn, Ars Technica, "Dealmaster: Sony discounts a bunch of PlayStation 4 things ahead of E3," 8 June 2018
The electric drums with earphones are especially pleasant for parents, as only the child playing can hear the cacophony.

— lori fulk / indystar, Indianapolis Star, "Indiana for shy kids: 10 quiet hangouts your kid will love," 19 June 2018
Anker says the earphones get 12 hours of battery life, which is about right.

— ars staff, Ars Technica, "Dealmaster: Get a pair of Anker wireless exercise headphones for $30," 7 June 2018
The accident’s cause may have been infuriatingly simple: The bus driver was wearing earphones.

— jeffrey gettleman and suhasini raj, BostonGlobe.com, "Bus driver in India is distracted by music, and 13 children die," 27 Apr. 2018
When listening to music with earphones at a maximum volume, the sound generated can reach a level of more than 100 dBA, which is loud enough to begin causing permanent damage after just 15 minutes per day.

— cassie armstrong, OrlandoSentinel.com, "National Save Your Hearing Day: How to observe in Central Florida," 31 May 2018
Most people these days have multiple pairs of headphones and earphones.

— vlad savov, The Verge, "The Tunai Drum earphones provide an exciting listen for just $33," 30 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'earphone.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of earphone

1881

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

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EARPHONE Defined for English Language Learners

earphone

noun

Definition of earphone for English Language Learners

: a device that is worn over or inserted into the ear and is used for listening to something (such as music or a radio) without having other people hear it