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

Sony decided to celebrate its flagship 1000X headphone line’s first decade by releasing its most premium version yet. — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 29 Sep. 2026

Smaller in size and lighter in weight than Anker’s other popular (and very awesome) Space One headphones, the Anker Q20i performs in similar fashion to its pricer counterpart. — Carlos Mejia, PC Magazine, 28 Sep. 2026

Yang then drove the woman around again, putting headphones on her and at one point placing a plastic bag over her head, the complaint states. — Wcco Staff, CBS News, 28 Sep. 2026

These can be enjoyed with compatible headphones and speakers (like some from Sonos) that support this virtual surround sound technology. — New Atlas, 27 Sep. 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