noun
headhunter
HEHD-huhnt
Headhunter (noun) means a recruiter who seeks out and approaches skilled professionals, especially executives, to fill jobs at other companies. Example: “A headhunter contacted her about a director role at a rival firm.”
noun
1
A recruiter who seeks out and approaches skilled professionals, especially executives, to fill jobs at other companies.
"A headhunter contacted her about a director role at a rival firm."
"The company hired a headhunter to fill its vacant CEO position."
2
Historically, a member of a group or tribe that took and kept the heads of enemies as trophies.
"Old travel accounts describe headhunters in parts of Borneo and Papua New Guinea."
How to use headhunter
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone paid to find and poach talented staff for other employers.
Common mistake
In modern business use it almost always means a recruiter, not the older tribal sense — context makes it obvious which is meant.
Common pairings
hire a headhunter
contacted by a headhunter
executive headhunter
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like headhunter.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- headhunters
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A _____ contacted her about a director role at a rival firm.
Etymology
A straightforward compound of head and hunter; the recruitment sense is a 20th-century figurative extension of the older, literal one.
Class of 1900
headhunter joined the language around 1900.
See the full Class of 1900 →
Synonyms
View more →
head-shrinker
Rhymes for headhunter
See all rhymes for headhunter →Frequently asked questions
What does “headhunter” mean?
The word “headhunter” means a recruiter who seeks out and approaches skilled professionals, especially executives, to fill jobs at other companies. In plain terms, someone paid to find and poach talented staff for other employers.
How do you pronounce “headhunter”?
“Headhunter” is pronounced HEHD-huhnt (/ˈhɛdˌhʌntɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “headhunter” in a sentence?
Here is “headhunter” used in a sentence: “A headhunter contacted her about a director role at a rival firm.”
What part of speech is “headhunter”?
“Headhunter” is a noun.
Where does the word “headhunter” come from?
The word “headhunter” dates back to around 1900. A straightforward compound of head and hunter; the recruitment sense is a 20th-century figurative extension of the older, literal one.
How many meanings does “headhunter” have?
“Headhunter” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a recruiter who seeks out and approaches skilled professionals, especially executives, to fill jobs at other companies.
