earplug

noun

ear·​plug ˈir-ˌpləg How to pronounce earplug (audio)
1
: an ornament inserted in the lobe of the ear especially to distend it
2
: a device of pliable material for insertion into the outer opening of the ear (as to keep out water or deaden sound)

Examples of earplug 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.
Still, many participants don swimming goggles and earplugs for protection. — ABC News, 26 Aug. 2026 Her essentials include a small power bank, earplugs, and an empty water bottle. — Jill Robbins, Travel + Leisure, 25 Aug. 2026 Look from $28 Hilton tells PEOPLE she’s been a fan of Loop earplugs for a while, especially given her DJ career. — Jamie Allison Sanders, PEOPLE, 24 Aug. 2026 What started as a niche Bose experiment has grown into a competitive market where sleep earbuds now rival white noise machines and traditional earplugs as go-to solutions for nighttime noise. — Ryan Brennan, Sacbee.com, 19 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for earplug

Word History

First Known Use

1820, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of earplug was in 1820

Rhymes for earplug

See All Rhymes for earplug

Browse Nearby Words

ear-piercing
earplug
earring
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Cite this Entry

“Earplug.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/earplug. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Medical Definition

earplug

noun
ear·​plug -ˌpləg How to pronounce earplug (audio)
: a device of pliable material for insertion into the outer opening of the ear (as to keep out water or deaden sound)

More from Merriam-Webster on earplug

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about earplug

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