What does "headset" mean?

A pair of headphones or earphones, or a singular headphone or earphone, typically with an attached microphone.

Headset

Common synonyms include: acoustical network, capacitor speaker, coaxial speaker, cone, crossover network, diaphragm.

//ˈhɛdsɛt// noun

noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level

Noun

1
A pair of headphones or earphones, or a singular headphone or earphone, typically with an attached microphone.
2
receiver consisting of a pair of headphones wordnet
3
Any electronic device worn on the head.
"If you've just acquired a Google Glass headset for £1,000, don't show it off at the movies. UK cinemas are to ban the headsets over fears that the gadgets can be used to make pirate copies of Hollywood blockbusters."
4
On a bicycle, the system of bearings that connects the fork to the frame.
5
A mindset. uncommon
"One member has this whole collection of 50s rockabilly by women. Like the blues, the lyrics reflect the headset of the time, so of course it's not all "non-sexist." But it's a great record, really connected to the roots of rock 'n roll."

"Please show me how to use the headset."

From head + set.

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.