headset

American  

[hed-set] / ˈhɛdˌsɛt /

noun

1. a device consisting of one or two earphones with a headband for holding them over the ears and with a microphone attached, used for telephone calls or other spoken communication over distance.

   One of the coaches on the sideline threw his headset to the ground and started yelling at the ref.

2. earphones or headphones.

   The house DJ set up a mixer and a mic, put on his headset, and got the party started.

3. Also called HMD.  Also called Head Mounted Display,.  a visor, goggles, etc., worn on the head and over the eyes to display digital content, as for virtual reality or augmented reality: The army will begin using the extended reality headset for live combat missions as well as training.

   A mid-range VR headset will have resolution comparable to more expensive headsets, but a smaller field of view.

   The army will begin using the extended reality headset for live combat missions as well as training.

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headset British  

/ ˈhɛdˌsɛt /

noun

1. a pair of headphones, esp with a microphone attached

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Etymology

Origin of headset

First recorded in 1920–25; head + set

Example Sentences

Next to it, a plant worker wears a VR headset to record his own endeavours to demonstrate what successful picking and sorting looks like.

From BBC • May 4, 2026

The company needs a hit after the flop of its Vision Pro headset.

From Barron's • Apr. 21, 2026

Shearn did 95% of the driving, all with zero visibility, using a noise-canceling helicopter headset.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

A far more recent notable miss for Apple has been the Vision Pro headset, argued Wood.

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

When my shift finally ended, I ripped off my headset and visor and walked back to my hab-unit as quickly as I could.

From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline

Related Words

• headphone
• headphones