headquarters

American  

[hed-kwawr-terz, -kwaw-] / ˈhɛdˌkwɔr tərz, -ˌkwɔ- /

noun

(used with a singular or plural verb)

plural

headquarters

1. a center of operations, as of the police or a business, from which orders are issued; the chief administrative office of an organization.

   The operatives were always in touch with headquarters.

2. the offices or working location of a military commander; the place from which a commander customarily issues orders.

3. a military unit consisting of the commander, his staff, and other assistants.

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headquarters British  

/ ˌhɛdˈkwɔːtəz /

plural noun

1. any centre or building from which operations are directed, as in the military, the police, etc

2. a military formation comprising the commander, his staff, and supporting echelons

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Other Word Forms

• subheadquarters nounsubheadquarters

Etymology

Origin of headquarters

First recorded in 1640–50; head + quarters

Explanation

The main office of an organization is its headquarters. The headquarters of your favorite video game company might be in New York. Companies, clubs, and religious groups all have headquarters, or a central administrative location. Militaries also have headquarters, although the word has a slightly different meaning in that context — military headquarters are where commanders and their staffs live and work. The word has been around since the 1600's, from the "most important or principal" meaning of head and quarters, originally "military dwelling place," and later "lodgings."

Example Sentences

About 200 jobs are at risk at Morrisons' Bradford headquarters, the supermarket has confirmed.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

In mid-December 2020, federal officials responsible for protecting American elections from fraud converged in a windowless, dim, fortified room at the Justice Department’s downtown Washington, D.C., headquarters.

From Salon • Apr. 14, 2026

In a speech at his campaign headquarters after more than half of the votes had been counted, Orbán said he had called to congratulate his opponent, Péter Magyar, on his victory.

From Barron's • Apr. 12, 2026

In 2024, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association, or FIFA, opened a new legal-and-compliance division office in the Miami area that had previously been housed at the association’s headquarters in Zurich.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 11, 2026

He also denied any association with Guiteau other than seeing him on many occasions at New York City's Republican headquarters and a few times on Washington's streets.

From "Ambushed!" by Gail Jarrow

Related Words

• command post
• main office
• nerve center