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 of headquarters

• seat
• center

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

Shortly before the announcement, gunfire rang out near the electoral commission headquarters, presidential palace and interior ministry, witnesses said. —Reuters 34 Min Ago, CNN Money, 26 Nov. 2025

The foreign ministry placed the wreckage outside its headquarters in Chisinau after meeting with Ambassador Oleg Ozerov. —Matthew Robinson, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2025

For the opening of the company’s headquarters in 1969, Thompson created frameless glass walls as a way to connect use the building’s interior to enliven the streets. —Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 25 Nov. 2025

For example, the iron gates commissioned in 1953, that employees have driven through for nearly seven decades when entering Ford's Product Development Center, came down when that part of the PDC was removed to make way for this new world headquarters. —Jamie L. Lareau, USA Today, 25 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1622, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for headquarters

• exporters
• hindquarters
• importers
• reporters
• supporters
• transporters
• mortars
• porters
• quarters
• sorters

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