earplug

noun

ear·​plug ˈir-ˌpləg How to pronounce earplug (audio)
1
: an ornament inserted in the lobe of the ear especially to distend it
2
: a device of pliable material for insertion into the outer opening of the ear (as to keep out water or deaden sound)

Examples of earplug in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Most workers wore earplugs to drown out the hoses and roaring machines. Hannah Dreier Meridith Kohut, New York Times, 18 Sep. 2023 Other videos highlight more issues: The screens at the main stage—which display the accompanying visuals to the music—stopped working in the middle of artists’ sets, water bottle refill stations broke down, and medical tents did not offer earplugs. Paige Hagy, Fortune, 6 Sep. 2023 This is to say nothing of my electronic devices, their various charging cables, my sleep mask, and my earplugs. Elizabeth Lopatto, The Verge, 7 July 2023 The everyday earplugs come in six colors: purple, blue, light green, black, honey, and white. Lauren Fischer, Travel + Leisure, 7 Sep. 2023 The veterans in the earplug litigation — the largest mass tort in U.S. history — say 3M and Aearo Technologies, which 3M acquired in 2008, produced faulty earplugs and provided them to the U.S. military, failing to protect users from hearing loss. Harold Maass, The Week, 28 Aug. 2023 Mack's Pillow Soft Silicone Earplugs $12 at Amazon Soft, moldable, and extremely effective, these silicone earplugs are our go-to tool for blocking out the world on a long flight. Mike Richard, Men's Health, 18 Aug. 2023 The earplugs were used by the US military in training and combat from 2003 to 2015. Jordan Valinsky, CNN, 29 Aug. 2023 The earplugs were originally manufactured by Aearo Technologies, which 3M acquired in 2008. BostonGlobe.com, 29 Aug. 2023 See More

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

1820, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of earplug was in 1820

Dictionary Entries Near earplug

Cite this Entry

“Earplug.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/earplug. Accessed 2 Oct. 2023.

Medical Definition

earplug

noun
ear·​plug -ˌpləg How to pronounce earplug (audio)
: a device of pliable material for insertion into the outer opening of the ear (as to keep out water or deaden sound)

More from Merriam-Webster on earplug

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