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

For family members, include a change of comfortable clothes, lightweight blankets, travel-size toiletries, snacks with a long shelf life, and a book, headphones or small comfort item for kids. —Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 11 May 2026

In stark contrast to the teenage social scene once synonymous with malls, many of Lincolnwood’s shoppers seemed to come there alone, making beelines for the still-open Old Navy or Victoria Secret without ever removing their headphones. —Audrey Pachuta, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2026

That led to millions of Beats By Dre headphones being sold and Dre and Iovine selling the company, which included Beats Music streaming service, to Apple in May 2014 for $3 billion. —Mike Snider, USA Today, 9 May 2026

Every now and then, the hunter’s headphones would ping, registering a metallic hit below ground; though the vast majority of those signals were inconsequential, identifying only bits of scrap iron or old lead bullets. —Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 8 May 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