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Definition of handwriting

handwriting

/ˈhændˌraɪ.tɪŋ/
hand · writ · ing
Plural:handwritings
•
Adjective:handwritten
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handwriting Lexical Profile

handwriting Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A person's particular style or character of writing by hand.

Example

"The doctor's handwriting on the prescription was so messy that the pharmacist had to call for clarification."

2

The action or process of writing with a pen or pencil held in the hand.

Example

"She prefers handwriting her essays in a notebook before typing the final draft on her computer."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for handwriting
Antonyms
View all antonyms for handwriting

• Nearby Words

handwringer
handwringing
handwrite
handwriting
handwritten
handy
handyman

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed as a compound noun in the early 16th century (around the 1530s) from 'hand' + 'writing', developed specifically to distinguish text written manually with a pen from texts produced by the then-emerging printing press.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

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