headphone

noun

head·​phone ˈhed-ˌfōn 

plural headphones

: an earphone held over the ear by a band worn on the head

—usually plural

So for the gamer to gain that "edge," he must have the best mouse, the smoothest mouse pad or the most sensitive headphones.

—Chris Yong

Strapping on cushy headphones the size of loaves of bread, I'd repeatedly listen to Mingus' "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat" and the music of artists such as Jelly Roll Morton and Billie Holiday.

—Robert Wilder

also : a small earphone inserted into the ear : earbud

in-ear headphones

Examples of headphone in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In addition to the photobooks, the installation included a pair of headphones playing Radiohead’s 1997 album OK Computer, along with two replicas of Andy Warhol’s post-shooting girdle. —Theo Belci, Artforum, 2 June 2026

Microsoft says the Laptop Ultra will include USB-A, USB-C, and HDMI ports, as well as an SD card slot and headphone jack. —Andrew Cunningham, ArsTechnica, 1 June 2026

Lastly, using tools such as noise-canceling headphones, a sleep mask, blue-light-blocking glasses, and even compression socks will help leaders arrive at their destination in better form. —Julian Hayes Ii, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026

The news comes after Apple watchers spotted a mysterious FCC filing earlier this month for new over-ear Bluetooth headphones, though few other details were revealed. —Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 31 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1908, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for headphone

• alone
• atone
• backbone
• bemoan
• bluestone
• breastbone
• brownstone
• capstone
• cheekbone
• condone
• curbstone
• cyclone

Kids Definition

headphone

noun

head·​phone ˈhed-ˌfōn 

: an earphone held over the ear by a band worn on the head

—usually used in plural