headquarters

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'headquarters' is correct and usable in written English.
It is a noun that is used to refer to the main office or main center of an organization or operation. For example, "The headquarters of the company moved to a larger location to accommodate its employee base."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He pledged to cut his personal carbon footprint and emissions from his department's headquarters by 10% in 2010.

The Guardian

It has been created by Thorntons to mark the company's 100th birthday and, after months of top-secret cooking, the 5,792.5kg (12,770lb) treat was unveiled to staff and visitors at the confectioner's headquarters in Alfreton, Derbyshire, on Wednesday.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Students began a class boycott last Monday and, galvanised by a city-wide surge in support, staged a large-scale protest outside of the city government headquarters on Friday night.

The Guardian

My impression is that there are many people at FA headquarters, or high up at the Football League, who are horrified by what is happening and wonder like the rest of us where it is all going to end.

The Guardian - Sport

She spent part of last year having very discreet conversations with the treasury as she sought to persuade George Osborne to commit serious money to building the artistic headquarters of his northern powerhouse plan.

The Guardian

The San Francisco-based firm also said on Thursday that it had set up a software development team in Amsterdam, its international headquarters.

The Guardian - Tech

"We have spoken to the parents who were visiting force headquarters with their children to explain what happened and have apologised for any distress caused".

The Guardian

Sean Doran, artistic director of the ever-expanding festival, which includes local shops featuring Beckett biscuits and sausages, revealed he now has an eye on the Orange Hall directly across the road from Happy Days's headquarters in the Clinton Centre, built on the site of a former Catholic boys' school.

The Guardian

From the high rises of midtown Manhattan I turned my attention to Scotland Yard and FBI headquarters, where dogged teams of investigators had been assigned the thankless task of tracking this digital samizdat back to its source, a process that often took years.

The Guardian - Books

One donor, who regularly attends the events, said some meetings were also held at the party's headquarters in Westminster, a few minutes' walk from the House of Commons.

The Guardian

Eighty readers will come to our headquarters in London, and more than 100 will join in remotely.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To improve clarity, specify which headquarters you're referencing, such as "company headquarters" or "regional headquarters".

Common error

Be careful about using the correct form. "Headquarters" is often plural in form even when referring to a single location. Ensure verb agreement matches this potentially confusing form.

Linguistic Context

The noun "headquarters" functions as a noun, identifying the primary location of an organization's operations or administration. As Ludwig AI suggests, it’s often used to denote a center of command or concentrated activity.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

17%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "headquarters" is a noun used to identify the main operational or administrative center of an organization. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and standard usage in written English. It is very common, particularly in News & Media and Formal & Business contexts. While generally neutral, its formality can vary by source. For alternatives, consider "main office" or "head office". Remember to ensure the verb agreement aligns with the possibly confusing plural form of the word.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

main office

Refers to the primary administrative location, similar to headquarters but might imply a smaller scale.

head office

Commonly used in British English to denote the main administrative center of a company.

central office

Emphasizes the central role of the office in coordinating activities.

home office

Suggests the main office is the origin or base of operations.

command center

Specifically refers to a location from which operations are directed, often in military or emergency contexts.

nerve center

Implies a vital control point where key decisions are made, often used metaphorically.

base of operations

Highlights the operational function of the location, often in military or strategic contexts.

principal location

A more formal way of referring to the primary location of a business or organization.

corporate hub

Emphasizes the central and dynamic nature of the location for a corporation.

seat of power

Suggests a location from which authority and control are exerted, often used in political contexts.

FAQs

How is "headquarters" used in a sentence?

The word "headquarters" typically refers to the main office or operational center of an organization. For example, "The company's "headquarters" is located in New York City".

What are some synonyms for "headquarters"?

Alternatives to "headquarters" include "main office", "head office", and "central office". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is "headquarters" singular or plural?

"Headquarters" is a noun that is plural in form but can be singular or plural in meaning depending on the context. It usually takes a singular verb when referring to a single location.

What is the difference between "headquarters" and "branch office"?

"Headquarters" refers to the main operational center of an organization, while a "branch office" is a secondary location that reports to the headquarters.