headscarf
noun
head·scarf
ˈhed-ˌskärf 
plural headscarves
ˈhed-ˌskärvz
also headscarfs
also headscarfs
: a fabric covering for the head worn especially by women
… young, well-educated European Muslim women who wear the headscarf as a conscious, articulate choice …—
Timothy Garton Ash
Timothy Garton AshThe stereotypical fortuneteller, a wizened old woman in a fringed headscarf hunched over a crystal ball …—Louise Erdich
Louise ErdichThe US Justice Department, for example, has supported the right of Muslim girls to wear headscarves in public schools.—Robert O. Paxton
Robert O. PaxtonExamples of headscarf in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The last major round of protests came in 2022, spurred by the death in police custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was arrested by the theocratic government's forces for allegedly wearing her headscarf incorrectly.
—Joe Walsh, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
The protests were the largest since a 2022 nationwide uprising sparked by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody after she was arrested for allegedly wearing her headscarf improperly.
—Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 1 Jan. 2026
Signature accessories like pillbox hats, gloves, headscarves, and oversized sunglasses created polished looks that became iconic symbols of her distinct style.
—Andrea Cheng, InStyle, 29 Dec. 2025
Amini, 22, an Iranian Kurdish woman, died in a hospital three days after the country’s morality police detained her for allegedly not adhering to the rules about headscarves for women and other clothing restrictions.
—Amin Khodadadi, NBC news, 8 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for headscarf
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Joe Walsh, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
The protests were the largest since a 2022 nationwide uprising sparked by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody after she was arrested for allegedly wearing her headscarf improperly.
—Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 1 Jan. 2026
Signature accessories like pillbox hats, gloves, headscarves, and oversized sunglasses created polished looks that became iconic symbols of her distinct style.
—Andrea Cheng, InStyle, 29 Dec. 2025
Amini, 22, an Iranian Kurdish woman, died in a hospital three days after the country’s morality police detained her for allegedly not adhering to the rules about headscarves for women and other clothing restrictions.
—Amin Khodadadi, NBC news, 8 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for headscarf
Cite this Entry
“Headscarf.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/headscarf. Accessed 14 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
