handwriting

noun

hand·​writ·​ing ˈhand-ˌrī-tiŋ 

1

: writing done by hand

especially : the form of writing peculiar to a particular person

2

: something written by hand

see also:

handwriting on the wall

Synonyms of handwriting

• scribble
• hand
• script
• penmanship
• signature
• print
• autograph

Examples of handwriting in a Sentence

Her handwriting is nearly impossible to read.

she immediately recognized the handwriting on the envelope as that of her old college roommate

Recent Examples on the Web

The fake medical prescriptions were legible, but the handwriting looked more like the output of an iPad stylus than a pen on paper. —Lila Shroff, The Atlantic, 2 May 2026

Somewhere in these stacks is a working dossier of Étienne Charavay, the handwriting expert whose analysis gave technical credibility to the prosecution in the Dreyfus Affair. —Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 1 May 2026

Seeing her dad’s handwriting, Lally sighed. —Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 28 Apr. 2026

Those who identify Elise as Malfatti contend that Nohl simply misread Beethoven’s handwriting of the name Therese. —Brian Duignan, Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing handwriting

• handwriting on the wall
• see/read the writing/handwriting on the wall
• the writing/handwriting is on the wall

Rhymes for handwriting

• alighting
• backbiting
• bullfighting
• daylighting
• delighting
• exciting
• firefighting
• highlighting
• igniting
• inciting
• indicting
• infighting

Kids Definition

handwriting

noun

hand·​writ·​ing ˈhan-ˌdrīt-iŋ 

1

: writing done by hand

2

: the form of a particular person's writing

3

: something written by hand