What does headword mean?
A headword is the word or phrase that appears at the beginning of an entry in a dictionary, thesaurus, or comparable reference work. It tells the reader which word is being discussed and may also serve as the standard form under which inflected variants are grouped. For example, an entry headed by “travel” may contain “travels,” “travelled,” and “traveling,” depending on the dictionary’s treatment. The term belongs mainly to lexicography and reference publishing, so it is more common in discussions of dictionary design, cataloguing, and indexing than in everyday speech. A headword should not be confused with a header, which is text at the top of a page or document, nor necessarily with a heading, which can label a broader section. Knowing the term is useful for anyone examining how reference works are organized, because the headword controls the structure and scope of the entry beneath it.
nounThe word or phrase displayed at the beginning of an entry in a dictionary or similar reference work, especially the word being explained or the form under which related inflections are grouped.
- The word or phrase displayed at the head of a dictionary or similar reference-work entry, whether it is the particular word being defined or the standard form under which related inflected forms are grouped.
"The headword at the top of each entry gives the reader an immediate point of reference."
"Each entry begins with a bold headword."
"Under the headword “journey,” the dictionary also lists the noun and verb inflections."
The regular plural refers to multiple dictionary headwords or entries.
"The glossary lists several headwords in bold."
A headword may be only one word, but it anchors every meaning, form, and example that follows it.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of headword
Headword is an English compound formed from head and word. Head continues Old English hēafod and means “upper part” or “front,” while word continues Old English word; both elements are Germanic in origin. The compound applies head in the sense “at the beginning or top” to the word being treated in a reference work.
Related word forms
How headword is actually used
This is primarily specialized terminology used in lexicography, reference publishing, cataloguing, and indexing. It is uncommon in general conversation.
Easily confused with headword
A headword identifies the word or phrase being treated in a reference entry, whereas a header is text appearing at the top of a page, document, or table.