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Definition of handbasket

handbasket

/ˈhændˌbæs.kɪt/
hand · bas · ket
Plural:handbaskets
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handbasket Lexical Profile

handbasket Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A small, lightweight basket with a handle, designed to be carried easily in one hand (now used chiefly in the idiom "to hell in a handbasket").

Example

"She gathered fresh herbs from the garden and carried them back to the kitchen in a woven handbasket."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for handbasket

Word Nuance & Usage

In contemporary English, the word is almost exclusively encountered in the informal idiom "going to hell in a handbasket," which describes a situation deteriorating rapidly and effortlessly.

• Nearby Words

handball
handballer
handbasin
handbasket
handbell
handbill
handblown

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Handbasket. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/handbasket
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