headquarters

noun

head·​quar·​ters ˈhed-ˌkwȯ(r)-tərz 

-ˌkȯr-,

(ˈ)hed-ˈkwȯ(r),

-ˈkȯr-

plural in form but singular or plural in construction

1

: a place from which a commander performs the functions of command

2

: the administrative center of an enterprise

Synonyms

• command
• seat

Examples of headquarters in a Sentence

the headquarters of the newly established United States government was in New York City, the nation's first capital

the scout went straight to the large tent in the center of the camp, correctly assuming that it served as the division's headquarters

Recent Examples on the Web

Already, the New York Times had reported that in 2018, fewer than 5% of the 1,700 employees at Adidas’s North American headquarters in Portland identified as Black. —Lila MacLellan, Fortune, 26 Apr. 2024

Between Coachella weekends, De Rosnay and Augé are seated on a couch at their label Because Music’s headquarters in Los Angeles. —Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 26 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1622, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

headquarters

singular or plural noun

head·​quar·​ters ˈhed-ˌkwȯ(r)t-ərz 

(ˈ)hed-ˈkwȯ(r)t-ərz

1

: a place from which a commander exercises command

2

: the governing and directing center of an organization