hand·cuff
ˈhan(d)-ˌkəf 
: a metal fastening that can be locked around a wrist and is usually connected by a chain or bar with another such fastening
—usually used in plural
handcuffed; handcuffing; handcuffs
2
: to hold in check : make ineffective or powerless
handcuffed by strict regulations
Examples of handcuff in a Sentence
Noun
the man reluctantly held out his wrists so the policeman could snap on handcuffs
Verb
wanted to take the trip, but was handcuffed by her responsibility to watch her ailing father
the fear that the new mandatory, standardized tests will handcuff the state's teachers, who will have to specifically tailor their lesson plans for the test
Recent Examples on the Web
Talia Soglin, Chicago Tribune, 11 Mar. 2025
Police officers were seen in the video of the altercation leading a man wearing a blue shirt out of the gymnasium in handcuffs.
—Scott Thompson, Fox News, 10 Mar. 2025
Nathaniel Percy, Orange County Register, 28 Feb. 2025
Pena, who was uninjured in the crash, was handcuffed at the scene, cops said.
—Elizabeth Keogh, New York Daily News, 27 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for handcuff
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Noun
Police officers escorted protesters out of the cafe in handcuffs, before driving them away from the store in police vehicles.
—Talia Soglin, Chicago Tribune, 11 Mar. 2025
Police officers were seen in the video of the altercation leading a man wearing a blue shirt out of the gymnasium in handcuffs.
—Scott Thompson, Fox News, 10 Mar. 2025
Verb
The man fought with the officers but was eventually handcuffed.
—Nathaniel Percy, Orange County Register, 28 Feb. 2025
Pena, who was uninjured in the crash, was handcuffed at the scene, cops said.
—Elizabeth Keogh, New York Daily News, 27 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for handcuff
Cite this Entry
“Handcuff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/handcuff. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.
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