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

See Examples For:

headroom

It was not a general suggestion of, for example, using up the increased headroom against the government's borrowing rules.

From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026

While Reeves said she had improved the flexibility in the government's budget by increasing its financial headroom, she added the public must be left in no doubt about the party's commitment to fiscal discipline.

From BBC ● Jun. 25, 2026

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

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

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