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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

The kid sitting next to her looked about sixteen and he pulled his earphone out long enough to say, “Yeah, sure, whatever.”

From "The Honest Truth" by Dan Gemeinhart

She responded by putting on her earphones and listening to music.

From BBC May 17, 2026

She still packs corded earphones for in-flight entertainment systems along with Apple AirPods Pro 3, which she loves for their size and noise-canceling capabilities.

From The Wall Street Journal Dec. 23, 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

Noor slouched next to him, complimentary earphones jammed into her ears.

From "Shooting Kabul" by N. H. Senzai

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