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 feature film ideas again have the same handwriting with humor and satire, but are contemporary again. —Georg Szalai, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Mar. 2025

South Carolina prosecutors want to test the handwriting of a man suspected of murdering his brother, after finding a note resembling a to-do list with instructions such as burning evidence and removing surveillance camera footage. —Samira Asma-Sadeque, People.com, 11 Feb. 2025

Well, the handwriting couldn’t be bigger on the wall. —Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 13 Dec. 2024

With digital labeling, no one has to try to remember who is who in your pictures (or decipher your illegible handwriting scribbled on the back). —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 14 Feb. 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