handed

adjective

hand·​ed ˈhan-dəd 

1

: having a hand or hands especially of a specified kind or number

—usually used in combination

a large-handed man

2

: using a specified hand or number of hands

—used in combination

right-handed

a one-handed catch

Examples of handed in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

His empty net goal was short-handed after a Carson Soucy penalty. —Peter Baugh, New York Times, 3 Jan. 2026

That leaves Cannes potentially short-handed in terms of major studio launches. —Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 1 Jan. 2026

The Canucks got a power-play goal from Linus Karlsson, a short-handed goal from Drew O'Connor and an even-strength goal from Marco Rossi. —CBS News, 27 Dec. 2025

The film’s open-handed humanity is boundless, even contagious, as director Kartiki Gonsalves follows the caregivers who make a tradition out of raising the animals, and in Bellie’s case, as a means to survive grief. —Tomris Laffly, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing handed

• bare-handed
• cack-handed
• empty-handed
• four-handed
• ham-handed
• heavy-handed
• high-handed
• left-handed
• light-handed
• one-handed
• red-handed
• right-handed
• single-handed
• sure-handed
• three-handed
• two-handed

Rhymes for handed

• banded
• branded
• candid
• landed
• sanded
• stranded
• backhanded
• commanded
• demanded
• disbanded
• expanded
• misbranded

Kids Definition

handed

adjective

hand·​ed ˈhan-dəd 

: having or using such or so many hands

a right-handed person

handedness noun

Medical Definition

handed

adjective

hand·​ed ˈhan-dəd 

1

: having a hand or hands especially of a specified kind or number

—usually used in combination

a large-handed man

2

: using a specified hand or number of hands

—used in combination

right-handed