headquarters
B1Formal, professional, military, journalistic.
Definition
Meaning
the main office or central location from which an organization is managed and directed.
A place that serves as the administrative and strategic nerve center for a military unit, business, or other organization; figuratively, a primary source or center of activity.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Traditionally treated as a plural noun ('The headquarters are in London'), but often used with singular verbs, especially when referring to a single entity or location ('The new headquarters is impressive'). It is a singular concept that grammatically can be either singular or plural, reflecting its lexicalization from a plural form. It does not have a singular form '*headquarter' in this sense.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. In BrE, the singular/plural verb agreement variation is perhaps more accepted. The abbreviation 'HQ' is common in both.
Connotations
Identical connotations of authority and central control.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
VERB + headquarters: establish, set up, locate, move, relocate, house, storm, raidPREP + headquarters: at headquarters, from headquarters, to headquartersVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(figurative) The kitchen is the headquarters of family life.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
The primary location where a company's senior management and key departments are based.
Academic
Used in business, management, and military history studies to denote a central administrative location.
Everyday
Less common in casual conversation; typically used when discussing news about companies or organizations.
Technical
In military contexts, a command post or the location from which a unit is commanded.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The regiment will headquarters in Aldershot.
American English
- The company is headquartered in Silicon Valley.
adjective
British English
- She holds a headquarters position in London.
American English
- He is the headquarters manager for the region.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The company's headquarters is in a big city.
- He works at the police headquarters.
- They decided to move their headquarters to a more modern building.
- All major decisions are made at the global headquarters.
- After the merger, the new corporation established its headquarters in Frankfurt.
- Journalists gathered outside the party's national headquarters for the announcement.
- The insurgents launched a daring raid on the enemy's field headquarters, crippling their command structure.
- The CEO's directive from headquarters mandated a complete overhaul of regional marketing strategies.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the HEAD of a body giving orders—the HEADquarters is where the 'head' (leaders) of an organization work.
Conceptual Metaphor
ORGANIZATION IS A BODY (with headquarters as the head/brain). BUILDING IS A CONTAINER FOR POWER.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating as '*главный квартал' (which is a mistranslation of 'quarter' as a city district).
- The correct equivalent is 'штаб-квартира' (for organizations) or 'штаб' (military).
- Note it is one word in English, not two ('head quarters').
Common Mistakes
- Using a singular noun 'headquarter' (e.g., 'Our headquarter is in NY' – incorrect).
- Consistently using plural verb agreement when referring to a single, named location (e.g., 'Google headquarters is in California' is acceptable).
- Misspelling as 'headquaters' or 'headquarts'.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following sentences uses 'headquarters' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It can be used with both singular and plural verbs. Use a plural verb if you are thinking of it as a group of people ('Headquarters are investigating'), and a singular verb if you think of it as a single place or entity ('Our headquarters is located in Chicago'). Both are acceptable.
The verb is 'to headquarter', often used in the passive as 'to be headquartered' (e.g., 'The firm is headquartered in Dublin').
They are often synonyms, especially in business. 'Headquarters' can feel slightly more comprehensive, sometimes including the entire main campus, and is the standard term in military contexts. 'Head office' is more strictly business-oriented.
Yes, especially when referring to a single, specific location (e.g., 'The company built a new headquarters').
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