hand down

verb

handed down; handing down; hands down

transitive verb

1
: to transmit in succession (as from father to son)
2
: to make official formulation of and express (the opinion of a court)

Examples of hand down in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The prosecution asked for a 14-year, three-month sentence, which West handed down. Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 18 Oct. 2025 The punishment was handed down for a violation of the league’s conduct policy stemming from his role in a car crash in Dallas last year. Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 17 Oct. 2025 Jones’s bid at the Supreme Court was his last chance to stop the judgment from being handed down. Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 14 Oct. 2025 Though Glazer does view a fine as the most likely penalty to be handed down. Reice Shipley, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hand down

Word History

First Known Use

1651, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hand down was in 1651

Cite this Entry

“Hand down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hand%20down. Accessed 2 Nov. 2025.

Kids Definition

hand down

verb
1
: to pass down from older to younger (as from parent to child)
2
: to form and express a judicial decision

Legal Definition

hand down

transitive verb
1
: to deliver (the decision or opinion of an appellate court) to the proper office of an inferior court
2
: to make an official formulation of and announce (the decision of a court)

More from Merriam-Webster on hand down

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