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earplug

American

[eer-pluhg] / ˈɪərˌplʌg /

noun

a plug of soft, pliable material inserted into the opening of the outer ear, especially to keep out water or noise.

earplug British

/ ˈɪəˌplʌɡ /

noun

a small piece of soft material, such as wax, placed in the ear to keep out noise or water

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of earplug

First recorded in 1900–05; ear ¹ + plug

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Separately thousands of military veterans are taking legal action against the MoD and an earplug manufacturer after being given ear protection they say was faulty.

From BBC • Oct. 8, 2025

To this end, the team rendered the lab mice temporarily deaf in one ear by means of an earplug.

From Science Daily • Mar. 6, 2024

Beyond the earplug litigation, 3M in June agreed to pay at least $10.3 billion to settle lawsuits over contamination of many U.S. public drinking water systems with potentially harmful compounds.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 29, 2023

As 3M’s bankruptcy strategy languished, lawyers for the company and the service members pursued a settlement in mediation required by the judge overseeing the earplug litigation, U.S.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 28, 2023

So then Makann did all the talking; they couldn't even depend on him to parrot what they were giving him with an earplug phone.

From Space Viking by Piper, H. Beam

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023