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 unit, which houses Meta’s virtual and augmented reality headsets and its metaverse efforts, has recorded an operating loss of more than $58 billion since its inception in 2020. —Zev Fima, CNBC, 31 Oct. 2024

Loading your audio article HyperX has made a name for itself with its over-the-ear headsets that offer solid sound with exceptional comfort, but earbuds are quickly becoming the form factor that wireless fans desire. —Gieson Cacho, The Mercury News, 28 Oct. 2024

Minecraft will officially stop supporting all virtual reality headsets after March 2025, according to an update posted to the Bedrock changelog. —Emma Roth, The Verge, 24 Oct. 2024

Doctors, assistants, and nurses all don headsets during the procedures. —Andrew R. Chow, TIME, 15 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1900, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

headset

noun

head·​set -ˌset 

: a pair of headphones