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

Example Sentences

Oracle was founded in California, but moved its headquarters to Austin, Texas, in 2020.

From Los Angeles Times

Team owners approved a rule Tuesday allowing the league to intervene from its New York headquarters and correct officiating errors in real time using replay technology.

From Los Angeles Times

Lyons was flanked by two officers when he emerged from police headquarters on Tuesday.

From BBC

In 2025, the US president went as far as visiting the Fed's under-renovation headquarters, where he verbally tussled with Powell as the two toured the site.

From Barron's

The Justice Department opened a criminal investigation into him in January, centered on testimony he gave to the Senate Banking Committee last June about cost overruns on the Fed headquarters renovation project.

From Barron's

Related Words

• command post
• main office
• nerve center