headless

adjective

head·​less ˈhed-ləs 

1

a

: having no head

b

: having the head cut off : beheaded

2

: having no chief

3

: lacking good sense or prudence : foolish

headlessness noun

Examples of headless in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

If anything, they’ve been downgraded to headless — in a box. —Jann Blackstone, Boston Herald, 26 Apr. 2026

Sitting in a wheelchair, dressed in a black jacket, pants and a white shirt, Marcelin, 87, sat at the defense table in Brooklyn Supreme Court Monday, on trial for the gruesome murder of Susan Leyden, whose headless and limbless torso was discovered on a Brooklyn street in 2022. —John Annese, New York Daily News, 20 Apr. 2026

Extra points for a headless giant turtle corpse. —Brian Truitt, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2026

Unclear about what exactly his job entails, Mike follows his headless-chicken instincts, which often lead him back to his cabin to retouch his hair spray. —Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 3 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

headless

adjective

head·​less ˈhed-ləs 

1

: having no head

2

: having no chief

3

: lacking good sense or prudence : foolish

headlessness noun