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
Cite this Entry
“Headset.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/headset. Accessed 27 Aug. 2026.
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