Definition, synonyms and related words
A pair of speakers worn over or in the ears so only the wearer can hear the sound.
"She put on her headphones to listen to music without disturbing anyone else in the library."
In plain English: Headphones are earpieces you wear over your ears to listen to music privately without making noise for people around you.
"She put on her headphones to listen to music without disturbing anyone nearby."
Usage: Headphones refer to either earpieces that sit inside the ear canal or larger cups placed directly over them, both designed for private listening. Use this term when describing personal audio devices rather than external loudspeakers intended for a group audience.
The word headphones is a straightforward combination of the words head and phones. It was first used to describe devices that sit on or over the ears rather than inside them.