handwriting

1 of 2

noun

hand·​writ·​ing ˈhand-ˌrī-tiŋ 

1

: writing done by hand

especially : the form of writing peculiar to a particular person

2

: something written by hand

see also:

handwriting on the wall

handwriting

2 of 2

present participle of handwrite

Synonyms of handwriting

Noun

• scribble
• hand
• script
• penmanship
• signature
• print
• autograph

Examples of handwriting in a Sentence

Noun

Her handwriting is nearly impossible to read.

she immediately recognized the handwriting on the envelope as that of her old college roommate

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Little is more magical than opening the mailbox and seeing the handwriting of a loved one. — Greta Cross, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026

Investigators collected handwriting samples from dozens of people, and all the individuals tested were excluded except for Patsy, whom examiners were unable to eliminate as the possible author. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 20 Aug. 2026

In the first half of the 20th century, penmanship was often taught as a distinct subject in American elementary schools, where children could spend as much as 45 minutes a day on handwriting instruction and practice. — Mary Jean Tecce Decarlo, The Conversation, 20 Aug. 2026

The researchers demonstrated the concept using signals whose characteristics changed over time, including handwriting and object movement at different speeds. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 8 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing handwriting

• handwriting on the wall
• see/read the writing/handwriting on the wall
• the writing/handwriting is on the wall

Rhymes for handwriting

• alighting
• backbiting
• bullfighting
• daylighting
• delighting
• exciting
• firefighting
• highlighting
• igniting
• inciting
• indicting
• infighting

Kids Definition

handwriting

noun

hand·​writ·​ing ˈhan-ˌdrīt-iŋ 

1

: writing done by hand

2

: the form of a particular person's writing

3

: something written by hand