pan·han·dle
ˈpan-ˌhan-dᵊl 
: a narrow projection of a larger territory (such as a state)
the Oklahoma Panhandle
panhandled; panhandling
ˈpan-ˌhan(d)-liŋ
-ˌhan-dᵊl-iŋ
: to stop people on the street and ask for food or money : beg
Examples of panhandle in a Sentence
Noun
The Texas Panhandle is the northernmost part of the state.
Verb
He panhandled for his bus fare.
There is a law against panhandling in the subway.
Recent Examples on the Web
Deputy News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
Downtown Sandpoint’s Panida Theater (quirkily named after the panhandle of Idaho) opened in 1927 as a Spanish Mission-style movie palace and vaudeville house.
—Laura Beausire, Travel + Leisure, 30 Sep. 2025
Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 23 Sep. 2025
Since June 2024, almost 220 local measures have passed that restrict or ban acts like sleeping, sitting or panhandling in public in cities that include Phoenix; Gainesville, Florida, and Reno, Nevada.
—Stephen Przybylinski, The Conversation, 12 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for panhandle
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.
Noun
Southwest and western Pennsylvania, along with the northern and northern panhandle of West Virginia, are also impacted, according to the NWS.
—Deputy News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
Downtown Sandpoint’s Panida Theater (quirkily named after the panhandle of Idaho) opened in 1927 as a Spanish Mission-style movie palace and vaudeville house.
—Laura Beausire, Travel + Leisure, 30 Sep. 2025
Verb
Glendale repealed rules banning panhandling and restricting pedestrians from stopping in roadways or medians after a lawsuit was filed to challenge the ordinances.
—Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 23 Sep. 2025
Since June 2024, almost 220 local measures have passed that restrict or ban acts like sleeping, sitting or panhandling in public in cities that include Phoenix; Gainesville, Florida, and Reno, Nevada.
—Stephen Przybylinski, The Conversation, 12 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for panhandle
Cite this Entry
“Panhandle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/panhandle. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
panhandle
1 of 2 noun
pan·han·dle
ˈpan-ˌhan-dᵊl
: a narrow strip of territory that extends from a larger territory (as a state)
the Texas Panhandle
panhandle
2 of 2 verb
panhandled; panhandling
-ˌhan-(d)liŋ,
-dᵊl-iŋ
: to beg for money on the street
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share