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
Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
Their return capped a week of intense negotiations by Seoul to win their release and bring them home after they were taken into custody in handcuffs and shackles.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 29 Oct. 2025
Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 4 Nov. 2025
Soumaya Hamdi said on October 28 that her husband was taken in the middle of the night to be processed in Fresno, during which he was handcuffed at both wrists and ankles.
—Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 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
Carpenter asked, as Fogelmanis smiled and held up his hands to receive the pink handcuffs.
—Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
Their return capped a week of intense negotiations by Seoul to win their release and bring them home after they were taken into custody in handcuffs and shackles.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 29 Oct. 2025
Verb
Officers did not raise their voices, and Butler appeared cooperative as he was handcuffed and escorted out.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 4 Nov. 2025
Soumaya Hamdi said on October 28 that her husband was taken in the middle of the night to be processed in Fresno, during which he was handcuffed at both wrists and ankles.
—Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 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 6 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share