handkerchief

noun

hand·​ker·​chief ˈhaŋ-kər-chəf 

-(ˌ)chif, 

-ˌchēf

plural handkerchiefs also handkerchieves ˈhaŋ-kər-chəfs 

-(ˌ)chifs, 

-ˌchēvz, 

-ˌchēfs, 

-chəvz, 

-(ˌ)chivz

1

: a small usually square piece of cloth used for usually personal purposes (such as blowing the nose) or as a clothing accessory

2

: kerchief sense 1

Synonyms of handkerchief

• madras
• bandanna

Examples of handkerchief in a Sentence

tied a handkerchief around her head and set about cleaning out the dust-covered attic

usually dries her hands on her handkerchief when there are no towels available

Recent Examples on the Web

Some are silky, some are spikey, and some — like the one worn by stately maidservant Hero, played by Emma Corrin — look like handkerchiefs delicately dropped from a great height onto the head of its wearer. —Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 5 Dec. 2025

Build in exits by driving separately or staying nearby, and have a sensory anchor to ground you, say, a small note in your pocket with a comforting message or a calming scent on a handkerchief. —Rebecca Soffer, Time, 4 Dec. 2025

Zain took a handkerchief from his pocket and tore it into strips. —Daniyal Mueenuddin, New Yorker, 23 Nov. 2025

Sanchez — whose Nedeljko is all protective, chest-out bluster, whereas Gavrilo is the kind of boy who apologizes to his handkerchief after coughing blood into it — is fearlessly, hilariously released as the scene rolls along. —Sara Holdren, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

handkerchief

noun

hand·​ker·​chief ˈhaŋ-kər-chəf 

-(ˌ)chif, 

-ˌchēf

plural handkerchiefs also handkerchieves -chəfs 

-(ˌ)chifs, 

-ˌchēvz, 

-ˌchēfs, 

-ˌchəvz, 

-ˌchivz

1

: a small piece of cloth used for wiping the face, nose, or eyes

2

: kerchief sense 1