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earbud

American  
[eer-buhd] / ˈɪərˌbʌd /

noun

  1. a small earphone that fits in the ear.

    the best earbuds for your cell phone.
earbud British  
/ ˈɪəˌbʌd /

noun

  1. a small earphone worn in the ear for use with audio devices

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of earbud

First recorded in 1980–85; ear 1 + bud 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Co-produced by Kid Harpoon and Tyler Johnson, the album was made for the earbud era.

From Salon • Mar. 6, 2026

When I called out, they pulled an earbud halfway out and said, “Sorry, I just have to get to class.”

From Slate • Oct. 30, 2025

Use one earbud to listen if you’re worried about keeping a partner awake.

From New York Times • Apr. 20, 2024

“Forty percent of my students have at least one earbud in when they walk into class,” Black said.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 9, 2024

She looked over and he pulled out an earbud.

From "Book Scavenger" by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.