headset

noun

head·​set ˈhed-ˌset 

plural headsets

1

: a support framework with attached electronic devices that is worn on the head: such as

a

: an earphone or a pair of earphones held on the head by a band

Earbuds, tiny round speakers which fit snugly into the ear, are near-invisible as they don't use a headband, but they don't fit every ear. The traditional banded headsets either completely enclose the ear or just sit gently over the opening.

—Joe Brown

Using discreet headsets with single earpiece headphones, the free audio-described tour will be delivered by a professional audio describer.

—Lincoln Tan

… a hybrid tech earbud headset with magnetic tipped earbuds.

—Gregg Ellman

especially : such a headset that also includes an attached microphone

… you should seriously consider getting a separate microphone or using a headset with a decent boom mic for much better audio quality than anything these webcams can capture.

—Will Greenwald

All you need for this is a hands-free headset for your telephone. Once you're properly equipped, you can make personal phone calls while simultaneously using your computer for personal entertainment.

—Paul McFedries

b

: virtual reality hardware (such as goggles and headphones) that is held on the head by one or more bands or straps

… stitches together multiple images to create a panoramic, 360-degree environment, and provides a virtual-reality headset to put you in the middle of a real video. You merely glance left or right, up or down, to see a different portion of the 3-D world you're in.

—Jake Kirchner

2

: the support framework of a headset

… the wearable computer mounted in the headset of a pair of glasses …

—David McNamee

Examples of headset in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

No passport required, just a virtual reality headset. —Haven Daley, Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2026

So Miles ordered a Cignetti-like outfit online, headset and all, and started walking around tailgates and attending games, attempting to go full Cignetti. —Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2026

So find a headset, grab a clipboard, or maybe even ditch your shirt — like Johnson did to get the Wieners Circle to hold a free hot dog giveaway recently. —Adam Harrington, CBS News, 7 Jan. 2026

Even the entertainment industry stands to gain by ditching bulky batteries for this self-powering tech; virtual reality headsets could become slimmer, more energy-efficient, and comfortable enough for all-day use. —Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 7 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1900, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for headset

• abet
• asset
• baguette
• banquette
• barbette
• beget
• beset
• brevet
• briquette
• brunet
• brunette
• burette

Kids Definition

headset

noun

head·​set -ˌset 

: a pair of headphones