Word
headless
Phoneticshead·less, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈhɛdɫəs/
UK/hˈɛdləs/
Definitions
01without a physical head
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. missing a head, like a statue or a body.
adj. lacking a physical head; often used in historical or artistic contexts.
“The museum displayed a headless statue from the Roman era.”
“The headless torso of the marble sculpture suggests it was damaged during the city's fall centuries ago.”
Synonyms
02without a leader
C1 · Advanced Formal
adj. describing a group or organization that does not have a leader.
adj. lacking a leader, chief, or governing head.
“The company was headless for months after the CEO suddenly resigned.”
“The rebellion remained a headless movement, failing to coordinate its efforts due to the lack of a central authority.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
03computing
C1 · Advanced Computing Technical
adj. a computer or software that works without a screen or keyboard.
adj. referring to a computer system or software application that operates without a graphical user interface or attached peripheral devices.
“We set up a headless server in the basement to store all our files.”
“Running the browser in headless mode allows developers to perform automated testing without the overhead of a visual interface.”
Synonyms
04linguistics
C2 · Proficiency Science Technical
adj. a phrase that does not have a main word that gives it its meaning.
adj. describing a construction or phrase that lacks a head morpheme or word that determines its grammatical category.
“The teacher explained how a headless phrase works in this sentence.”
“In theoretical linguistics, the analysis of headless relative clauses remains a subject of significant debate regarding syntactic structure.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
05without foam
B2 · Upper Intermediate Informal
adj. a glass of beer or another drink that has no bubbles or foam on top.
adj. lacking a head of foam, typically in reference to carbonated beverages like beer.
“He complained to the bartender when he was served a headless pint of ale.”
“The beer was poured too slowly, resulting in a headless glass that looked unappealing to the customer.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
Usage
Often used in technical contexts to describe hardware or software; in general use, it frequently appears in the idiom 'running around like a headless chicken'.
Real-World Examples
“Yuli Serfaty’s headless metallic dog sculptures guard this booth, their claws sharp, their heavy teats dragging on the floor.” Etymology
From Middle English heedles, hevedles, from Old English hēafodlēas (“headless”), equivalent to head + -less. Cognate with Dutch hoofdloos (“headless”), Danish hovedløs (“headless”), Swedish huvudlös (“headless”), Icelandic höfuðlaus (“headless”). Piecewise doublet of chefless and chiefless.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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