headscarf

noun

head·​scarf ˈhed-ˌskärf 

plural headscarves ˈhed-ˌskärvz  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

The stereotypical fortuneteller, a wizened old woman in a fringed headscarf hunched over a crystal ball …

—Louise Erdich

The US Justice Department, for example, has supported the right of Muslim girls to wear headscarves in public schools.

—Robert O. Paxton

Examples of headscarf in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Social media videos have popped up showing young women on scooters wearing helmets, but no headscarves. — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026

For a softer approach, follow this guest’s lead with a neutral version and a headscarf that brings just the right amount of retro flair. — Amanda Le, InStyle, 18 Aug. 2026

Female students were first required to wear hijabs, with colorful headscarves tolerated for a while. — Dominique Soguel, Christian Science Monitor, 15 Aug. 2026

Emma had what appeared to have one of the late monarch’s riding headscarves wrapped around her saddle. — Audrey Schmidt, PEOPLE, 9 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1688, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for headscarf

• scarf
• scharf