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

Hopefully, the over-ear headphones impress us as much as those earbuds did. —James Peckham, PC Magazine, 5 Sep. 2025

The boxy fit will easily layer without feeling too bulky, and the front is fitted with functional pockets for my phone, headphones, and even some extra snacks. —Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 3 Sep. 2025

Check for decibel levels on headphones; most equipment suggests appropriate levels. —Jennifer E. Mabry, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025

German audio brand beyerdynamic (the lower-case b is a deliberate branding device) has unveiled a new pair of headphones and two new earbuds at IFA 2025, which is happening in Berlin this week. —Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025

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