header

American  

[hed-er] / ˈhɛd ər /

noun

• headers
  plural

1. a person or thing that removes or puts a head on something.

2. a reaping machine that cuts off and gathers only the heads of the grain.

3. a chamber to which the ends of a number of tubes are connected so that water or steam may pass freely from one tube to the other.

4. Automotive. an exhaust manifold.

5. Building Trades.

   1. a brick or stone laid in a wall or the like so that its shorter ends are exposed or parallel to the surface.

   2. a framing member crossing and supporting the ends of joists, studs, or rafters so as to transfer their weight to parallel joists, studs, or rafters.

6. Informal. a plunge or dive headfirst, as into water.

   He stumbled and took a header into the ditch.

7. Soccer. a pass or shot made by heading the ball.

8. a sign that is part of or attached to the top of a rack displaying merchandise.

9. Computers. a line of information placed at the top of a page for purposes of identification.

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header British  

/ ˈhɛdə /

noun

1. Also called: header tank. a reservoir, tank, or hopper that maintains a gravity feed or a static fluid pressure in an apparatus

2. a manifold for distributing a fluid supply amongst a number of passages

3. a machine that trims the heads from castings, forgings, etc, or one that forms heads, as in wire, to make nails

4. a person who operates such a machine

5. a brick or stone laid across a wall so that its end is flush with the outer surface Compare stretcher

6. the action of striking a ball with the head

7. informal a headlong fall or dive

8. computing

   1. a block of data on a tape or disk providing information about the size, location, etc, of a file

   2. ( as modifier )

      header card

      header label

9. dialect a mentally unbalanced person

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• headers
  plural

Etymology

Origin of header

First recorded in 1400–50, header is from the late Middle English word heder. See head, -er ¹

Explanation

A header is a separate bit of text at the top of a printed page. A header might be the title of the novel you're reading, which is repeated on each page of the book. One kind of header — also called a "page header" — is a chapter title, which is often printed at the top of every page. It's called a header because it's printed at the top, or head, of the page. When you format a long paper for school, you may include page numbers as headers. In any case, a header is set apart from the main text of a document and is sometimes printed in a larger or bolder font.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

header headers

Perhaps Robinson's greatest Whitley Bay moment came in the 2010 FA Vase semi-final second leg, when his last-minute diving header in the driving rain secured a 6-5 aggregate victory over Barwell, sparking a pitch invasion.

From BBC ● Sep. 30, 2026

England took advantage of those reprieves to somehow be ahead by the break, through star performer Anthony Gordon's composed finish and Harry Kane's deflected header.

From BBC ● Sep. 26, 2026

Such was Calvert-Lewin's hunger, he looked dumbfounded after learning his header for Leeds' second against Newcastle had been awarded to team-mate Jayden Bogle after it took a final touch off his team-mate.

From BBC ● Sep. 14, 2026

A trademark header came off Bogle for Leeds' second and then showed other side of his game to finish calmly on the floor for the hosts' third.

From BBC ● Sep. 14, 2026

Behind the dense sandstone of the header, the Captain believed, was a vast, undiscovered coal seam.

From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam

Bosnia and Herzegovina defender Nikola Katic, back, and Switzerland midfielder Remo Freuler headers the ball.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 27, 2026

High schools, clubs, colleges and governing bodies should track heading exposure, limit headers in training, and eliminate repetitive heading drills.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026

For 13- and 14-year-olds, heading practice is limited to 30 minutes a week, with no more than 20 headers a player.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026

This resulted in both John Stones and Dan Burn getting unmarked headers towards goal on two different occasions against New Zealand.

From BBC ● Jun. 15, 2026

After exercises, she laid out a line of small orange cones and ran the players through a series of drills: quick passes, headers, and chests.

From "Outcasts United: An American Town, a Refugee Team, and One Woman's Quest to Make a Difference" by Warren St. John

Related Words

• dunk