headless

IPA/ˈhedləs/
KK[hˈɛdləs]IPA/ˈhedləs/

headless — adjective

  • headlesspositive
  • more headlesscomparative
  • most headlesssuperlative

1. having no head, either because the head was cut off or removed, or because somet

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

having no head, either because the head was cut off or removed, or because something was made or formed without one.

Example

The museum displayed a headless statue from ancient Greece, its arms also missing.

headless statue — common collocation for ancient artifacts

Mayumi's younger brother drew a headless snowman and stuck a carrot above the body.

Common collocations
  • headless statue
  • headless body
  • headless corpse
  • headless skeleton
  • headless chicken
  • headless figure
Synonyms
  • decapitated

    specifically refers to having the head cut off, usually of a person or animal; more violent and specific than 'headless'

  • beheaded

    similar to 'decapitated' but strongly associated with execution; implies the head was deliberately removed

Antonyms
  • headed

    having a head; the direct opposite

Grammar Patterns

headless + noun

be/seem + headless

Common Mistakes

The team was headless after the manager resigned.
The team was leaderless after the manager resigned.
'headless' literally means without a head, not without a leader.

2. not showing good judgment or careful thought; acting or speaking in a way that l

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

not showing good judgment or careful thought; acting or speaking in a way that lacks common sense.

Example

Cyrus called the investment plan headless because it ignored every obvious risk.

formal register: describing a plan as headless

Adina dismissed the headless proposal without even reading the budget section.

Common collocations
  • headless plan
  • headless proposal
  • headless idea
  • headless decision
  • headless scheme
Synonyms
  • foolish

    much more common; implies poor judgment rather than lack of intelligence

  • stupid

    the most common and direct word; can sound blunt or insulting

  • mindless

    suggests a total absence of thought, often for automatic or repetitive actions

  • senseless

    emphasizes that an action has no logical purpose or reason

Antonyms
  • sensible

    showing good judgment; the direct opposite of this sense

  • wise

    having or showing experience and good judgment

Grammar Patterns

headless + noun

be/seem + headless

call/describe + noun + as headless

Usage Note

This sense is relatively rare in modern everyday English and has a formal or literary tone. In casual conversation, words like 'stupid' or 'foolish' are far more common. The meaning is typically directed at plans, decisions, or ideas rather than at people directly.

Idioms

run around like a headless chicken

idiom

To act in a very disorganized and frantic way, often without achieving anything.

When the fire alarm went off, the staff ran around like headless chickens.

Instead of panicking and running around like a headless chicken, take a deep breath.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/2

Headless, foolish, stupid, mindless, and senseless all describe a lack of good judgment, but they differ in tone and how common they are. Stupid is the most frequent and direct word, often used when someone shows a general lack of intelligence, and it can sound harsh ('Why would you make such a stupid mistake?'). Foolish suggests poor judgment rather than low intelligence, usually in a way that seems unwise rather than insulting ('It was foolish to spend all your money on lottery tickets'). Mindless emphasizes a complete absence of thought, especially for automatic or repetitive actions ('mindless scrolling on social media for hours'). Senseless describes an action that has no logical purpose and seems irrational ('a senseless act of destruction'). Headless is the rarest of the five and has a slightly old-fashioned, literary quality; it is usually applied to plans, ideas, or proposals that show a glaring lack of common sense. A modern speaker would say 'That plan is completely stupid' far more often than 'That plan is headless.'

foolish ↗stupid ↗mindless ↗senseless

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Headless comes from Old English hēafodlēas, which combines hēafod ('head') with the suffix -lēas ('without, -less'). The literal meaning — 'without a head' — has been in use since the early Middle Ages. The figurative sense meaning 'foolish or lacking intelligence' appeared in the 1500s, based on the idea that the head is the seat of reason and thought.