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

• hand
• penmanship
• script

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

The class broke down into groups, each focusing on a different aspect of White’s story: For instance, one group attempted a handwriting analysis, while another searched for records of White during his enslavement in Maryland. —Ellen Wexler, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 June 2025

In other words, the historical record seems as illegible as my own prehistoric handwriting. —Literary Hub, 12 June 2025

Federal officials who asked for a handwriting sample from Reyes also determined that his handwriting and the threatening letter didn’t match. —Jade Walker, CNN Money, 30 May 2025

But the claim started to unravel as investigators talked to Morales Reyes, who doesn’t speak English fluently, and obtained a handwriting sample from him that was different from the handwriting in the letters, according to court documents. —Chicago Tribune, 5 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