handshake

noun

hand·​shake ˈhan(d)-ˌshāk 

: a clasping usually of right hands by two people (as in greeting or farewell)

Examples of handshake in a Sentence

She greeted him with a handshake.

He has a firm handshake.

Recent Examples on the Web

This puts a nice button on Gabe preferring to get Star Baker over a handshake. — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 6 Nov. 2026

But Plant, then just one of many 12-year-old schoolgirls waiting in line to meet Diana during her royal visit, got more than the standard handshake. — Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2026

Andreatta denied that an altercation occurred and said the exchange ended with a handshake. — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 4 Nov. 2026

There’s no doubt that the rematch at Mohegan Sun two days before Thanksgiving will have a lot of eyes on the pregame and postgame handshakes. — Doug Feinberg, Chicago Tribune, 1 Nov. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1802, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing handshake

• golden handshake

Rhymes for handshake

• awake
• backache
• beefsteak
• betake
• cheesecake
• cupcake
• daybreak
• earthquake
• forsake
• gouache
• headache
• heartache

Kids Definition

handshake

noun

hand·​shake -ˌshāk 

: a clasping of hands by two people especially in greeting or farewell