in-ear

American  

[in-eer] / ˈɪnˌɪər /

adjective

1. made to fit just inside the ear. Compare over-ear.

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noun

1. in-ears, a set of headphones or similar audio equipment designed to fit just inside the ear.

Example Sentences

The app’s in-ear virtual coach reminded her she was running too slowly during workouts.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 8, 2026

Aside from the Mariners Moose plushie in his bedroom, Park shows his Mariners pride onstage with his in-ear monitors, which are emblazoned with the team’s blue-and-green compass logo.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 26, 2024

Her tour manager has confiscated her in-ear headphones because the last time she brought them back from a show, she woke up the next morning to find them “smashed to smithereens”.

From BBC • Nov. 10, 2023

The band wears sound-muting in-ear monitors while performing, so they couldn’t immediately tell what the noises were.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 24, 2023

Shore’s team developed a “bisensory” treatment consisting of an in-ear headphone and two externally attached electrodes that delivered a combination of acoustic and electric stimuli to reduce activity in the DCN.

From Scientific American • Jul. 13, 2023