English Reference
Noun

headband

n.
B1 Intermediate US /ˈhɛdˌbænd/ UK /hˈɛdbænd/ head·band UK spelling headbands Printing

n.a strip of material that goes around your head to hold back your hair. You often see people wearing them at the gym or during sports.

n.a strip of material worn around the head to secure or hold back the hair. Often used in athletic or casual contexts to manage sweat or provide a grip for a helmet.


SIMPLE

She tied a blue headband around her hair before the race.

CONTEXTUAL

The athlete wore a thick headband to keep his forehead dry during the intense summer training session.

COMPLEX

While the primary function of the headband is to manage hair, modern designs often incorporate sweat-wicking fabric and adjustable straps for a secure fit during high-intensity activities.


From Middle English *hedband, from Old English hēafodbænd, hēafodbend (“headband”), equivalent to head + band. Cognate with Old High German houbitbant (“headband”), Dutch hoofdband (“headband”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Old English hēafodbænd
Level B1 · Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated