headset

noun

head·​set ˈhed-ˌset 

plural headsets

1

: a support framework with attached electronic devices that is worn on the head: such as

a

: an earphone or a pair of earphones held on the head by a band

Earbuds, tiny round speakers which fit snugly into the ear, are near-invisible as they don't use a headband, but they don't fit every ear. The traditional banded headsets either completely enclose the ear or just sit gently over the opening.

—Joe Brown

Using discreet headsets with single earpiece headphones, the free audio-described tour will be delivered by a professional audio describer.

—Lincoln Tan

especially : such a headset that also includes an attached microphone

All you need for this is a hands-free headset for your telephone. Once you're properly equipped, you can make personal phone calls while simultaneously using your computer for personal entertainment.

—Paul McFedries

b

: virtual reality hardware (such as goggles and headphones) that is held on the head by one or more bands or straps

… stitches together multiple images to create a panoramic, 360-degree environment, and provides a virtual-reality headset to put you in the middle of a real video. You merely glance left or right, up or down, to see a different portion of the 3-D world you're in.

—Jake Kirchner

2

: the support framework of a headset

Google Glass—the wearable computer mounted in the headset of a pair of glasses—was launched by the data giant in February 2013.

—David McNamee

Examples of headset in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The headset may look familiar to fans of Sony’s popular wireless headphones, as the design borrows heavily from the brand’s flagship WH-1000X series, from engineering insights to the look and feel of the earcups. —Julian Chokkattu, Wired News, 19 July 2025

Motorola reportedly paid $40 million for rights to the headsets in 2012 before Bose took over. —Jason Clinkscales, Sportico.com, 14 July 2025

The headset also includes a USB sound card that supports DTS Headphone 2.0 7.1-channel surround sound, adding depth to already strong and crisp audio performance. —PC Magazine, 11 July 2025

The good news is that VR headsets—and those with pass-through capabilities for AR-like functionality—aren’t going away. —Tim Bajarin, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1900, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for headset

• abet
• asset
• baguette
• banquette
• barbette
• beget
• beset
• brevet
• briquette
• brunet
• brunette
• burette

Kids Definition

headset

noun

head·​set -ˌset 

: a pair of headphones