# heads

/ˈhɛdz/ (US) · /hˈɛdz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/heads
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. plural of head

noun · CEFR A1

more than one head, or the top parts of several things.

For teachers: the plural form of head, referring to multiple anatomical heads or the upper parts of objects.

- The two heads of the departments met to discuss the new budget.
- The hydra was a mythical beast that grew two new heads every time one was severed by a hero.

### 2. side of a coin

noun · CEFR A2

the side of a coin that usually has a person's face on it.

For teachers: the obverse side of a coin, typically featuring a portrait or emblem.

- I chose heads, but the coin landed on tails so I lost the bet.
- To decide who would kick off the match, the referee tossed a silver coin and asked the captains to call heads or tails.

### 3. ship's toilet

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

the name for a toilet on a boat or ship.

For teachers: the latrine or lavatory on a vessel, originally located at the bow or 'head' of the ship.

- The captain showed the new sailors where the heads were located.
- Life on the vintage schooner was difficult, as the heads were cramped and frequently required manual pumping to function.

### 4. legal draft

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Dialect

the main points of a new law before it is officially written.

For teachers: the general principles or outline of a proposed piece of legislation.

- The government published the heads of the bill to get public feedback.
- The cabinet spent several hours debating the heads of the new environmental bill before sending it to the drafting office.

Teaching tip: This sense is specific to Irish legal and parliamentary English.

## Examples

- I choose heads for the coin toss.
- The referee flipped the coin and it landed on heads, so the home team chose to kick first.
- In many cultures, the side designated as heads carries the image of a monarch or a national symbol, serving as a tiny monument to state authority.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.