headshot

American  

[hed-shot] / ˈhɛdˌʃɒt /

Or head shot

noun

1. a photograph of someone's face, especially a promotional photograph of a model, actor, or author.

2. mug shot.

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Etymology

Origin of headshot

First recorded in 1935–40; head ( def. ) + shot ¹ ( def. ) (in the sense “photograph”)

Example Sentences

Pickle has already starred in her own official team headshot and, in Cortina, was presented with canine-adapted kit.

From BBC • Mar. 12, 2026

He started off by asking if anyone was hiring before whipping out a dated headshot and handing it off to Harrison Ford, asking the actor to pass it along to Steven Spielberg.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 14, 2025

Reeve wasn’t the producers’ first pick, but the size of the actor’s neck in a headshot made them reconsider, hoping he could build himself up to fighting shape.

From Salon • Jul. 10, 2025

Digles, of Ascent, was seated at my table; the Outstanding Agency Professional nominees were announced, and his headshot flashed on the projector screen, but he did not win.

From Slate • Mar. 3, 2025

I needed to find a book that had a better picture of a great white to sketch than the headshot in Fred’s book.

From "The Line Tender" by Kate Allen