headquarters

[ hed-kwawr-terz, -kwaw- ]

noun

, (used with a singular or plural verb)

, plural head·quar·ters.

1. a center of operations, as of the police or a business, from which orders are issued; the chief administrative office of an organization:

   The operatives were always in touch with headquarters.

2. the offices or working location of a military commander; the place from which a commander customarily issues orders.
3. a military unit consisting of the commander, his staff, and other assistants.

headquarters

/ ˌhɛdˈkwɔːtəz /

plural noun

1. any centre or building from which operations are directed, as in the military, the police, etc
2. a military formation comprising the commander, his staff, and supporting echelons

Other Words From

• sub·headquarters noun plural subheadquarters

Word History and Origins

Origin of headquarters¹

First recorded in 1640–50; head + quarters

Example Sentences

The cuts, which impact about a quarter of its 350-strong workforce, have predominantly impacted its London design headquarters, as well as some Somerset office workers.

From BBC

“This is the epicenter of a rebirth of freedom,” McCoy said from the Phoenix headquarters of Kirk’s organization, Turning Point USA.

From Los Angeles Times

Mr Wong was among thousands who held a 15-hour siege of police headquarters in the Wan Chai district, pelting the building with eggs and spraying graffiti on its walls, in June that year.

From BBC

Ukraine has already used them against Russian-occupied Crimea - for example hitting Russia’s Black Sea naval headquarters at Sevastopol.

From BBC

The 1958 report from Christmas Island to the nuclear programme’s secret UK headquarters says that there were blood tests for Squadron Leader Terry Gledhill showing “gross irregularity”.

From BBC

Related Words

• command post
• main office
• nerve center