handshake

noun

hand·​shake ˈhan(d)-ˌshāk How to pronounce handshake (audio)
: 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
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.
Auriemma blamed the dustup on Staley not following the proper protocol for a pregame handshake. David Brandt, Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026 After striking out the New York Mets’ Mark Vientos to secure the Giants’ 7-2 win on Thursday evening, Tidwell and catcher Daniel Susac exchanged handshakes on the mound, as per the custom. Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 3 Apr. 2026 But let Stephen Adly Guirgis’s play introduce itself on its own terms, with its firm, enthusiastic handshake and garrulous demeanor (Guirgis has never been a playwright of few words), and the experience quickly endears itself. Sara Holdren, Vulture, 31 Mar. 2026 Fists flew on the 50-yard line as tempers heated up during the traditional post-game handshake, with some athletes exiting the field bloodied and bruised. Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 31 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for handshake

Word History

First Known Use

1802, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of handshake was in 1802

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Cite this Entry

“Handshake.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/handshake. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

handshake

noun
hand·​shake -ˌshāk How to pronounce handshake (audio)
: a clasping of hands by two people especially in greeting or farewell

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