adj

headless

HEHD-luhs

Headless (adj) means having no head, literally — a body without its head. Example: “The legend tells of a headless horseman who roams the woods at night.”

adj

Having no head, literally — a body without its head.

"The legend tells of a headless horseman who roams the woods at night."

Lacking leadership or direction, as an organization.

"The party was left headless after its leader resigned."

Describing software or hardware that runs without a screen, keyboard, or other direct user interface.

"The server runs a headless version of the operating system with no monitor attached."

How to use headless

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishWithout a head — literally missing one, without a leader, or (for computers) without a display/interface.

Common pairings

headless horseman headless browser headless organization

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Fill the gap

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The legend tells of a _____ horseman who roams the woods at night.

Etymology

From Old English hēafodlēas, a straightforward joining of head and the negative suffix -less; the tech sense is a modern 20th/21st-century extension.

Origin: Old English · First attested 2000

Class of 2000 headless joined the language around 2000.

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Frequently asked questions

What does “headless” mean?

The word “headless” means having no head, literally — a body without its head. In plain terms, without a head — literally missing one, without a leader, or (for computers) without a display/interface.

How do you pronounce “headless”?

“Headless” is pronounced HEHD-luhs (/ˈhɛdləs/ in IPA).

How do you use “headless” in a sentence?

Here is “headless” used in a sentence: “The legend tells of a headless horseman who roams the woods at night.”

What part of speech is “headless”?

“Headless” is an adjective.

Where does the word “headless” come from?

The word “headless” dates back to around 2000 and comes from Old English. From Old English hēafodlēas, a straightforward joining of head and the negative suffix -less; the tech sense is a modern 20th/21st-century extension.

How many meanings does “headless” have?

“Headless” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: having no head, literally — a body without its head.