handbook

noun

hand·​book ˈhan(d)-ˌbu̇k 

1

a

: a book capable of being conveniently carried as a ready reference : manual

b

: a concise reference book covering a particular subject

2

a

: a bookmaker's book of bets

b

: a place where bookmaking is carried on

Synonyms of handbook

• manual
• textbook
• text
• dictionary

Examples of handbook in a Sentence

a handbook of grammar

Recent Examples on the Web

By combining tests, quality control, and performance tracking, the company handbook can become more accurate and useful overall, and a small business can more successfully preserve its high standards of expertise for the future. — K.h. Koehler, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026

SafeSport says its rules apply at all times, and Lone Star’s handbook at the time said the region is allowed to govern teams for as long as they are registered. — Molly Hensley-Clancy, ProPublica, 20 Aug. 2026

The handbook currently treats it as a subset of other mental health conditions that can occur within weeks after giving birth. — Deborah Becker, NPR, 16 Aug. 2026

As Ronald Araujo discovered recently when the Uruguay international defender’s move from Barcelona managed to tick pretty much every box in the modern transfer-reaction handbook. — Gregg Evans, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for handbook

• betook
• casebook
• chapbook
• checkbook
• chinook
• codebook
• cookbook
• fishhook
• forsook
• guidebook
• logbook
• mistook

Kids Definition

handbook

noun

hand·​book -ˌbu̇k 

: a small book of facts or useful information usually about a particular subject : manual