hand·cuff
ˈhan(d)-ˌkəf 
: a metal fastening that can be locked around a wrist and is usually connected by a chain or bar with another such fastening
—usually used in plural
handcuffed; handcuffing; handcuffs
2
: to hold in check : make ineffective or powerless
handcuffed by strict regulations
Examples of handcuff in a Sentence
Noun
the man reluctantly held out his wrists so the policeman could snap on handcuffs
Verb
wanted to take the trip, but was handcuffed by her responsibility to watch her ailing father
the fear that the new mandatory, standardized tests will handcuff the state's teachers, who will have to specifically tailor their lesson plans for the test
Recent Examples on the Web
Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 17 Dec. 2025
Another image shows Nick Reiner in handcuffs, standing near the front of a police cruiser.
—Greg Norman, FOXNews.com, 16 Dec. 2025
Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 16 Dec. 2025
In March, as ICE raids and deportations ramped up, the White House posted a meme of a Dominican woman crying as she was handcuffed, rendered in the Studio Ghibli animation style, an filter popular among ChatGPT users at the time.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 14 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for handcuff
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
Speer, 48, appeared Tuesday afternoon in handcuffs and wearing a striped gray jail jumpsuit.
—Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 17 Dec. 2025
Another image shows Nick Reiner in handcuffs, standing near the front of a police cruiser.
—Greg Norman, FOXNews.com, 16 Dec. 2025
Verb
Theodore was handcuffed at his apartment in North Miami and was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 16 Dec. 2025
In March, as ICE raids and deportations ramped up, the White House posted a meme of a Dominican woman crying as she was handcuffed, rendered in the Studio Ghibli animation style, an filter popular among ChatGPT users at the time.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 14 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for handcuff
Cite this Entry
“Handcuff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/handcuff. Accessed 18 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share