headscarf

noun

head·​scarf ˈhed-ˌskärf How to pronounce headscarf (audio)
plural headscarves ˈhed-ˌskärvz How to pronounce headscarf (audio) also headscarfs
: a fabric covering for the head worn especially by women
… young, well-educated European Muslim women who wear the headscarf as a conscious, articulate choice …Timothy Garton Ash
The stereotypical fortuneteller, a wizened old woman in a fringed headscarf hunched over a crystal ball …Louise Erdich
The US Justice Department, for example, has supported the right of Muslim girls to wear headscarves in public schools.Robert O. Paxton

Examples of headscarf in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
One strike hit centrally near Laleh Park, the site of protests over the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who died after Iran’s morality police detained her for allegedly not wearing her headscarf properly. Katie Polglase, CNN Money, 13 June 2025 Graduation caps pulled snug over white headscarves, young girls approach the podium one by one to honor the academic achievements of their peers. Hasan Ali, Christian Science Monitor, 19 May 2025 Meanwhile, Loro Piana’s headscarves at the presentation were sophisticated with a modern twist, drawing inspiration from Queen Elizabeth’s style. Sandra Salibian, WWD, 17 Mar. 2025 The party has also tried to ban headscarves for women. Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA TODAY, 24 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for headscarf

Word History

First Known Use

1688, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of headscarf was in 1688

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Headscarf.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/headscarf. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on headscarf

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!