headless

American

[hed-lis] / ˈhɛd lɪs /

adjective

without a head.
having the head cut off; beheaded.
having no leader or chief; leaderless.
foolish; stupid.

a headless argument.

headless British

/ ˈhɛdlɪs /

adjective

without a head
without a leader
foolish or stupid
prosody another word for catalectic

"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

headlessness

noun

Etymology

Origin of headless

before 1000; Middle English he ( ve ) dles, Old English hēafodlēas. See head, -less

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:

headless

Of course being headless chickens we can’t think much.

From Salon ● Aug. 7, 2026

Irving’s whimsically inventive “Sketch Book” of stories introduced Rip Van Winkle, the headless horseman of Sleepy Hollow and other timelessly folkloric figures to an eager readership.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026

It contained several digital distortions, including a headless agent.

From Barron's ● Jan. 30, 2026

Fitful at the back, wasteful in possession, headless chickens in too many areas.

From BBC ● Sep. 25, 2025

Dress forms displaying elaborate gowns stand in groups and pairs, giving the impression of a party with a great many headless guests.

From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern

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