phones
/fəʊnz/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Meaning · English
headphones
NounRegister: informal
Examples
I don't like wearing phones for any length of time, but these are as comfortable as any I've tried. The only problem is that their isolation is so good, you feel cut off from the outside world and you can't hear what people are saying about you.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “phones” mean?
headphones
Is “phones” formal or informal?
phones is generally informal.