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

In a press release, Columbia Records noted that Waterloo Records in Austin, Texas, saw fans in line for hours to hear the track through headphones in the store — a true throwback to old-school listening and real-time hype rituals that also defy today’s on-demand, streaming-first world. —Jeff Benjamin, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026

This option from Amazon has dedicated spots that are each perfectly sized to hold your tablet, phone, reading glasses, water bottle, and headphones. —Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 22 Jan. 2026

Block Out Noise With 36% Off Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 Headphones The Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 are over-ear headphones that come with a leopard print finish, which should appeal to anyone who is tired of boring black over-ear headphones. —Parker Hall, Wired News, 9 Jan. 2026

Don’t bother trying to adjust your TV or headphones, or calling your doctor for a tinnitis check. —Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 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