handwriting

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

Phrases

handwriting on the wall

: writing on the wall

Synonyms

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

Examples of handwriting in a Sentence

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

Not only that, but Katie Gaudreau’s veil featured custom messages in her brothers’ handwriting. —Miami Herald, 14 July 2025

In order to date the scrolls, the model analyzed each one's handwriting style. —Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 6 June 2025

Outside of creative and emotional benefits, journaling may help younger kids develop handwriting, sentence structure or reading skills. —Bestreviews, Mercury News, 3 June 2025

The inaugural name, Mrs. Sarah Hanna, was entered on September 5, 1840, in the kind of cursive handwriting that humans have lost the ability and patience to parse. —Paige Williams, New Yorker, 2 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing handwriting

• 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