Meaning & use
earphone
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountable
A small device that you put in or over your ear so you can listen to music, calls, etc. privately.
Grammar: Countable; usually used in the plural 'earphones' for a pair.
Patterns
- wear earphones
- put on earphones
- listen through earphones
She put on her earphones and started listening to a podcast.
The earphones that came with the phone broke after a month.
He always wears earphones on the train to block out noise.
Word forms
| plural | earphones |
|---|
Common combinations
- wireless earphones
- These wireless earphones connect by Bluetooth.
- a pair of earphones
- I bought a new pair of earphones for my morning run.
- noise-canceling earphones
- Noise-canceling earphones help on long flights.
- plug in earphones
- You can plug in earphones if you don't want to disturb others.
Synonyms and how they differ
- headphones
- Usually larger and worn over the head, covering both ears; 'earphones' are smaller and fit in or on the ear.
- earbuds
- Specifically the small in-ear type; 'earphones' is a more general term that can include over-ear models.
- headset
- Often includes a microphone for talking, used with phones or computers; 'earphone' usually means just for listening.
Word family
- earpiece noun
- The part of a phone or device that you hold to your ear, or a small earpiece for listening.
Commonly confused: earphone or earbud? earphone or headphone?
earphone vs earbud
A type of earphone that sits inside the ear; 'earphone' is a broader term.
earphone vs headphone
A larger device worn over the head; 'earphone' is smaller and often used for in-ear devices.
Practice
Fill in the blank: She put on her ______ and listened to music on the bus.
Choose one answer.
We usually use the plural 'earphones' for a pair. 'Earphone' is singular and would need 'a' or 'one'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “earphone”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.