headset

noun

Save Word

head·set | \ ˈhed-ˌset

plural headsets

Definition of headset

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 will be expensive and bulky, covering the user’s eyes. — Chris Smith, BGR, 14 June 2022 Fuel his ego with a gaming headset the pros love and use. — Katie Dupere And Vanessa Powell, Men's Health, 19 May 2022 After all, a VR headset is just a tool to access virtual reality content. — Nina Xiang, Forbes, 27 Apr. 2022 On Christmas, the Oculus app was the most downloaded on Apple and Google’s app marketplaces, suggesting the VR headset was a popular gift, particularly with other video-game consoles in short supply. — Scott Nover, Quartz, 29 Dec. 2021 Valve's Index headset is arguably the most robust consumer virtual reality product on the market. — Dan Patterson, CBS News, 22 Nov. 2021 Even without the Elite Strap, the headset is lightweight and comfortable for extensive sessions at just 1.1 pounds. — Hunter Fenollol, Popular Mechanics, 23 Sep. 2021 This already affordable headset is now even cheaper. — Jess Grey, Wired, 13 June 2021 The headset is exceedingly lightweight, at only 220 grams. — Edmund Torr, Popular Science, 7 Dec. 2020 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'headset.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Buying Guide

Our Reviews team has selected the best VR headsets of 2022.