earpiece

noun

ear·​piece ˈir-ˌpēs How to pronounce earpiece (audio)
1
: the part of an instrument (such as a telephone, stethoscope, or hearing aid) that is placed against or inserted into the outer opening of the ear
especially : earphone
2
: one of the two sidepieces that support eyeglasses by passing over or behind the ears

Examples of earpiece in a Sentence

the earpiece of a stethoscope
Recent Examples on the Web The attendees included some two dozen federal and state judges — a gathering that required U.S. marshals with earpieces to stand watch while a Coast Guard boat idled in a nearby cove. Andy Kroll, ProPublica, 11 Oct. 2023 Otherwise, the design of the earpieces and the case hasn't changed. Joe Hindy, PCMAG, 18 Sep. 2023 Tap either earpiece's stem to control playback and manage calls. Joe Hindy, PCMAG, 18 Sep. 2023 An umpire is informed in an earpiece whether the pitch was a ball or strike and signals accordingly. Alex Speier, BostonGlobe.com, 31 Aug. 2023 By default, the outer panel on the left earpiece switches between the ANC and Ambient Sound modes, while the right earpiece controls basic playback. Tim Gideon, PCMAG, 26 July 2023 His mother, who worked at a Kresge’s department store, would later use an earpiece to listen to Mr. Roberts’s broadcasts during Mass, taking a seat near the back of the church to avoid causing a stir. Harrison Smith, Washington Post, 31 Aug. 2023 Even blocks away there were undercover agents standing on sidewalks, identifiable only by their earpieces and stern glares. Alyson Krueger, BostonGlobe.com, 5 May 2023 That said, the earpieces can sit in a range of positions in your ear and still feel secure, which is good. Tim Gideon, PCMAG, 26 July 2023 See More

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

1824, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of earpiece was in 1824

Dictionary Entries Near earpiece

Cite this Entry

“Earpiece.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/earpiece. Accessed 6 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

earpiece

noun
ear·​piece -ˌpēs How to pronounce earpiece (audio)
: a part of an instrument (as a telephone) that is placed against or in the ear
especially : earphone

Medical Definition

earpiece

noun
ear·​piece ˈi(ə)r-ˌpēs How to pronounce earpiece (audio)
1
: a part of an instrument (as a stethoscope or hearing aid) that is inserted into the outer opening of the ear
2
: one of the two sidepieces that support eyeglasses by passing over or behind the ears
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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