earpiece

noun

ear·​piece ˈir-ˌpēs 

1

: the part of an instrument (such as a telephone, stethoscope, or hearing aid) that is placed against or inserted into the outer opening of the ear

especially : earphone

2

: one of the two sidepieces that support eyeglasses by passing over or behind the ears

Examples of earpiece in a Sentence

the earpiece of a stethoscope

Recent Examples on the Web

The bystander could see a commotion of security personnel in suits and earpieces, scrambling and focusing on the man. —David K. Li, NBC News, 19 Nov. 2024

Thanks to the soft cushioning on the top and earpieces, our tester was able to wear these for several hours — commuting to work, sitting at a desk, and walking around — sans discomfort or pressure. —Jordana Comiter, People.com, 4 Nov. 2024

From the back of the room, Mason spoke the words into Arledge’s earpiece. —Steven Zeitchik, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Nov. 2024

The sound quality from the earpieces was deep and rich, and the headset was comfortable on my head. —Eric Ravenscraft, WIRED, 30 Jan. 2022

Word History

First Known Use

1824, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

earpiece

noun

ear·​piece -ˌpēs 

: a part of an instrument (as a telephone) that is placed against or in the ear

especially : earphone

Medical Definition

earpiece

noun

ear·​piece ˈi(ə)r-ˌpēs 

1

: a part of an instrument (as a stethoscope or hearing aid) that is inserted into the outer opening of the ear

2

: one of the two sidepieces that support eyeglasses by passing over or behind the ears