earpiece

noun

ear·​piece ˈir-ˌpēs 

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

Since a stroke damaged his short-term memory, Stellan receives prompts through an earpiece on set. —Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026

Brameshuber picked and cast people and put them in a car with Sommer in a studio to imitate the experience of long rides and allow for free-flowing conversations to develop, sometimes giving Sommer pointers, via an earpiece, about questions and topics to pursue. —Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 15 Feb. 2026

Voorhies, wearing an earpiece in his right ear, was listening to this friend live-stream while strolling up and down the street. —Paige Williams, New Yorker, 14 Feb. 2026

The two men in black were discreet, but their earpieces were the giveaway. —Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 11 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1824, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

earpiece

noun

ear·​piece -ˌpēs 

: 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 

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