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Showing results for earphone. Search instead for earphoned.

earphone

American  
[eer-fohn] / ˈɪərˌfoʊn /

noun

  • earphones
    plural
  1. a sound receiver that fits in or over the ear, as of a radio or telephone.

  2. Usually earphones. a headset; headphone.


earphone British  
/ ˈɪəˌfəʊn /

noun

  1. a device for converting electric currents into sound waves, held close to or inserted into the ear

"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

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms


Etymology

Origin of earphone

First recorded in 1920–25; ear 1 + phone 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.

See Examples For:

Small portable radios were common, but they didn’t sound good and usually came with just a small earphone that went in one ear.

From NewsForKids.net ● May 20, 2024

Samsung, which is the biggest maker of Android phones, recommends using a cotton bud to get moisture out of the earphone jack and charging port.

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 29, 2024

The cameraman tried to catch the bird to retrieve the earphone, but it flew away.

From BBC ● Nov. 5, 2022

But when Astros catcher Martín Maldonado had a question about his wine preferences, Verlander pulled off one earphone and responded.

From Washington Post ● May 16, 2022

“Now let’s try,” he whispers, and presses the earphone against his ear and runs what he has decided must be the tuning pin back and forth along the coil.

From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr

By 2014, tourists were improvising with items like scrunchies, ribbons and earphones.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 10, 2026

The wireless earphones will feature "Live Translation," which allows users to hear in their preferred language on their AirPods.

From BBC ● Sep. 22, 2025

“I was back in New York, and I was walking down the street and a guy looked up at me, pulled earphones out of his head and said, ‘Hey … you’re on my iPod!’

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 24, 2025

Each participant wore earphones to hear both their taps and their partner's taps, and they had to anticipate their partner's movements.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 23, 2024

Alex fumbled in his pocket and took out the set of earphones.

From "Stormbreaker" by Anthony Horowitz

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