adj
headless
HEHD-luhs
adj
1
Having no head, literally — a body without its head.
"The legend tells of a headless horseman who roams the woods at night."
2
Lacking leadership or direction, as an organization.
"The party was left headless after its leader resigned."
3
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 notesIn 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
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “headless”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
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.