headquarters

/ˈhɛdkɔrɾərz/

/hɛdˈkwɔtəz/

The main office of an organization is its headquarters. The headquarters of your favorite video game company might be in New York.

Companies, clubs, and religious groups all have headquarters, or a central administrative location. Militaries also have headquarters, although the word has a slightly different meaning in that context — military headquarters are where commanders and their staffs live and work. The word has been around since the 1600's, from the "most important or principal" meaning of head and quarters, originally "military dwelling place," and later "lodgings."

Definitions of headquarters

1. noun

   (usually plural) the office that serves as the administrative center of an enterprise
   “many companies have their headquarters in New York”

   synonyms: central office, home base, home office, main office

   types:

   mukataa

   an Arabic word for headquarters or administrative center

   type of:

   business office, office

   place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
2. noun

   the military installation from which a commander performs the functions of command
   “the general's headquarters were a couple of large tents”

   synonyms: HQ, military headquarters

   types:

   GHQ, command post, general headquarters

   military headquarters from which a military commander controls and organizes the forces

   guardhouse

   a military facility that serves as the headquarters for military police and in which military prisoners can be detained

   type of:

   military installation

   any facility servicing military forces
3. noun

   (plural) a military unit consisting of a commander and the headquarters staff
   types:

   ACLANT, Allied Command Atlantic

   a major strategic headquarters of NATO located in the United States; is under the authority of the North Atlantic Council

   ACE, Allied Command Europe

   a major strategic headquarters of NATO; safeguards an area extending from Norway to Turkey

   type of:

   force, military force, military group, military unit

   a unit that is part of some military service