headquarters

1 of 2

noun

head·​quar·​ters ˈhed-ˌkwȯ(r)-tərz How to pronounce headquarters (audio)
-ˌkȯr-, 
(ˈ)hed-ˈkwȯ(r), 
-ˈkȯr-
plural in form but singular or plural in construction
Synonyms of headquartersnext
1
: a place from which a commander performs the functions of command
2
: the administrative center of an enterprise

headquarters

2 of 2

third person singular of headquarter

Synonyms of headquarters

Examples of headquarters in a Sentence

Noun the headquarters of the newly established United States government was in New York City, the nation's first capital the scout went straight to the large tent in the center of the camp, correctly assuming that it served as the division's headquarters
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Noun
Elsewhere, a Ukrainian attack on Russia's eastern Belgorod region killed two people Friday, the area's regional emergency headquarters said. — Arkansas Online, 10 Oct. 2026 More than 200 workers filled five rooms at Home Depot’s Vinings headquarters Friday morning, carefully coordinating for the first Atlantic hurricane this season. — Amy Wenk, AJC.com, 10 Oct. 2026 Another major collapse occurred at the provincial government headquarters in Coclé, where an entire side of the building gave way, exposing the offices inside. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2026 Visa recently leased 300,000 square feet of office space, Barclays just bought its headquarters for £750 million, and Citi is investing more than $1 billion in its European HQ. — Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 9 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for headquarters

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1622, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of headquarters was in 1622

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Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

headquarters

singular or plural noun
head·​quar·​ters ˈhed-ˌkwȯ(r)t-ərz How to pronounce headquarters (audio)
(ˈ)hed-ˈkwȯ(r)t-ərz
1
: a place from which a commander exercises command
2
: the governing and directing center of an organization
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