headrest

American  

[hed-rest] / ˈhɛdˌrɛst /

noun

1. a rest or support of any kind for the head. heads.

2. Also called head restraint.  a padded part at the top of the back of a seat, especially in an automobile, to protect one's head heads against whiplash in a collision.

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headrest British  

/ ˈhɛdˌrɛst /

noun

1. a support for the head, as on a dentist's chair or car seat

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Etymology

Origin of headrest

First recorded in 1850–55; head + rest ¹

Example Sentences

Holding it down causes waterspouts to spin up all around you, dancing on their tails, merging and splitting—the immersiveness comes courtesy of a speaker in the driver’s headrest.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 24, 2025

One of the nicest touches has the gamers getting in an actual car and banging against the headrest as they accelerate — something that doesn't happen at a computer monitor.

From Salon • Aug. 24, 2023

“What about the headrest, what about all the cargo I stick in my trunk?”

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 18, 2023

“It’s just when I had my head in the headrest and there’s that movement, that bothers me.”

From Seattle Times • Feb. 28, 2023

I slam my head against the headrest and let out a totally warranted sigh.

From "Dumplin'" by Julie Murphy

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