1
: a prefixed note of comment or explanation
2
: a note prefixed to the report of a decided legal case
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Editor's Note: This recipe was developed by Craig Ruff; the headnote was written by Kimberly Holland.
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Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 24 Aug. 2025
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Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 24 Aug. 2025
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“Headnote.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/headnote. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
headnote
noun
head·note
ˈhed-ˌnōt 
: a summary prefixed to the report of a decided legal case stating the principles or rulings of the decision and usually the main facts of the case
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