headdress

noun

head·​dress ˈhed-ˌdres How to pronounce headdress (audio)
Synonyms of headdressnext
: an often elaborate covering for the head

Illustration of headdress

Illustration of headdress

Synonyms of headdress

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Examples of headdress in a Sentence

The dancers wore ceremonial headdresses. most of the acrobats riding the horses and elephants wore some sort of fancy headdress
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Austrian authorities have cited the headdress’s fragility as the cause preventing its return, as per a joint study by Austrian and Mexican conservators. — News Desk, Artforum, 12 Oct. 2026 In 2020, Mexico requested to borrow the headdress for an exhibition, but Austrian officials refused to do so, citing the object’s fragility as the reason. — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 12 Oct. 2026 However, in only one of these cases does the culprit wear a cool antler headdress and take drink recipes from the Necronomicon. — Sean T. Collins, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2026 Pay homage to a statue of the Egyptian god Horus, whose headdress recalls Natalie Portman’s Queen Amidala, and a Hopi katsina doll of an ogre with the same beak as Jar Jar Binks. — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for headdress

Word History

First Known Use

1645, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of headdress was in 1645

Rhymes for headdress

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Browse Nearby Words

head ditch
headdress
head dropper
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Cite this Entry

“Headdress.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/headdress. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

headdress

noun
head·​dress ˈhed-ˌdres How to pronounce headdress (audio)
: a covering or ornament for the head

More from Merriam-Webster on headdress

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about headdress

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