headquarters
9 synonyms for headquarters, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — An organization's main office, from which its operations or leadership are run.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
central office
nerve centre
command centre
home base
main office
HQ
h.q.
head office
How to use headquarters
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
company headquarters
move headquarters
at headquarters
Etymology
A compound of head and quarters, originally denoting the lodgings ("quarters") of a commanding officer.
Full origin of headquarters →Frequently asked questions
What does “headquarters” mean?
The word “headquarters” means an organization's main office, from which its operations or leadership are run. In plain terms, the main base of an organization, business, or military unit.
How do you pronounce “headquarters”?
“Headquarters” is pronounced hehd-KAW-tuhz (/ˈhɛdˌk(w)ɔɹ.tɚz/ in IPA).
How do you use “headquarters” in a sentence?
Here is “headquarters” used in a sentence: “The company moved its headquarters to a new office tower downtown.”
What is another word for “headquarters”?
Words with a similar meaning to “headquarters” include HQ, h.q. and head office.
What part of speech is “headquarters”?
“Headquarters” is a noun.
Is “headquarters” a common word?
“Headquarters” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
Is "headquarters" singular or plural?
"Headquarters" always ends in -s but can take either a singular or plural verb, so both "the headquarters is in London" and "the headquarters are in London" are acceptable. It has no separate singular form such as "headquarter."
What is the difference between headquarters and a branch office?
Headquarters is the main office from which an organisation's leadership and central operations are run, while a branch office is a smaller, local site that reports to it. An organisation has one headquarters but may have many branches.
Can "headquarters" be used as a verb?
The related verb form is usually "headquartered," as in "the company is headquartered in Berlin," meaning it has its main office there. The noun "headquarters" itself is not normally used directly as a verb.
What is the difference between "headquarters" and "head office"?
Both refer to an organisation's principal location, but "head office" is more common in British business English, while "headquarters" (often shortened to HQ) is used more broadly and can also carry a military sense.
