headroom

American  

[hed-room, -room] / ˈhɛdˌrum, -ˌrʊm /

Or head room

noun

1. Nautical. the clear space between two decks.

2. Also called headway. 

   1. clear vertical space, as between the head and sill of a doorway, the ceiling and floor of a room, or the ceiling of a vehicular passageway and a vehicle roof, as to allow passage or comfortable occupancy.

      over 7.5 feet of headroom in the attic;

      a covered bridge with limited headroom.

   2. clear vertical space above one’s head, as in a vehicle or room.

      plenty of headroom for passengers.

3. Audio. dynamic headroom.

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headroom British  

/ -ˌruːm, ˈhɛdˌrʊm /

noun

1. the height of a bridge, room, etc; clearance

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Etymology

Origin of headroom

First recorded in 1850–55; head + room

Example Sentences

Earlier, she had said that she wished to give the Sparks salary headroom to build a team around her.

From Los Angeles Times • May 6, 2026

“We believe the cost optimization headroom is far from exhausted with algorithm-level innovation,” MS says.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026

Verizon’s dividend yield of 5.54% is the highest on the list, with a FCF yield estimate implying headroom of 4.31%.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 7, 2026

Markets expect Reeves to announce an improved fiscal position, including solid fiscal headroom.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 2026

The first row seemed to have more headroom and breathing area, but the second and third rows beneath them were already slimy with waste.

From "Copper Sun" by Sharon M. Draper

Related Words

• area
• arena
• capacity
• distance
• field
• location
• slot
• spot
• territory
• zone