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

Other Researchers Exploring Light and Sound At Georgia Tech and Emory University, associate professor Annabelle Singer is running a parallel line of research using something that looks like ski goggles paired with headphones. — Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 13 July 2026

Her setup uses goggles that resemble ski goggles paired with headphones that deliver rapid clicks and beeps. — Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 13 July 2026

Designed For The Long Term DX10000 CL headphones have been created as a long-term flagship model, which is just as well considering the price. — Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026

The Apple Watch was not the first smartwatch or health tracker on your wrist, and AirPods weren't the first wireless headphones. — Kevin Stankiewicz,zev Fima, CNBC, 10 July 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