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Definition of headphone

headphone

/ˈhɛd.foʊn/
head · phone
Plural:headphones
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headphone Lexical Profile

headphone Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A small audio speaker designed to be worn on or over the ear, usually as part of a pair on a headband, allowing the user to listen to audio privately.

Example

"He removed his left headphone so he could hear what the professor was saying."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for headphone

Word Nuance & Usage

Almost always used in the plural form ('headphones') to refer to a single device consisting of two earpieces, though the singular 'headphone' is used to refer to a single earpiece or as an attributive noun (e.g., 'headphone jack').

• Nearby Words

headmasterly
headmastership
headmistress
headphone
headphones
headpiece
headpin

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the late 19th or early 20th century as a compound of 'head' and 'phone' (from telephone), originally referring to the wearable earpieces used by early telephone and radio operators.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Headphone. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/headphone
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