handkerchief

noun

hand·​ker·​chief ˈhaŋ-kər-chəf 

-(ˌ)chif, 

-ˌchēf

plural handkerchiefs also handkerchieves ˈhaŋ-kər-chəfs 

-(ˌ)chifs, 

-ˌchēvz, 

-ˌchēfs, 

-chəvz, 

-(ˌ)chivz

1

: a small usually square piece of cloth used for usually personal purposes (such as blowing the nose) or as a clothing accessory

2

: kerchief sense 1

Synonyms of handkerchief

• madras
• bandanna

Examples of handkerchief in a Sentence

tied a handkerchief around her head and set about cleaning out the dust-covered attic

usually dries her hands on her handkerchief when there are no towels available

Recent Examples on the Web

Wednesday’s home defeat against Manchester City leaves the Spaniard with just three wins across his last 10 games, but fans inside the Bernabeu stopped short of the white handkerchief-waving protest that often marks the death throes of a Los Blancos head coach. —Jack Bantock, New York Times, 12 Dec. 2025

For application, Henriksen suggests wrapping an ice cube in a thin cotton handkerchief and massaging it across the skin. —Lauren Valenti, Vogue, 12 Dec. 2025

All Ingrid is left with is her father’s bloody handkerchief. —Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 8 Dec. 2025

Some are silky, some are spikey, and some — like the one worn by stately maidservant Hero, played by Emma Corrin — look like handkerchiefs delicately dropped from a great height onto the head of its wearer. —Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 5 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

handkerchief

noun

hand·​ker·​chief ˈhaŋ-kər-chəf 

-(ˌ)chif, 

-ˌchēf

plural handkerchiefs also handkerchieves -chəfs 

-(ˌ)chifs, 

-ˌchēvz, 

-ˌchēfs, 

-ˌchəvz, 

-ˌchivz

1

: a small piece of cloth used for wiping the face, nose, or eyes

2

: kerchief sense 1