ENGLISH
REFERENCE

phones

n.
US //ˈfoʊnz// UK //fˈəʊnz// phones
  1. 1 plural of phone (n.)
    A1 Beginner

    more than one telephone.

    the plural form of phone, referring to multiple telecommunication devices.

    Example

    The office was noisy because several phones were ringing at once.

    Example

    Modern offices often lack physical desk phones, as most employees rely entirely on mobile devices for professional communication.
  2. 2 headphones (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Informal

    a pair of speakers you wear over your ears to listen to music.

    an informal, plural-only term for headphones or earphones.

    Example

    He put on his phones to block out the noise on the bus.

    Example

    She sat in the corner of the library with her phones on, completely absorbed in her podcast.

    Usage

    Always used in the plural form when referring to headphones.

Last updated June 19, 2026