sinistral

adjective

si·​nis·​tral ˈsi-nə-strəl  sə-ˈni- 

: of, relating to, or inclined to the left: such as

a

: left-handed

b

of a gastropod shell : having the whorls coiling counterclockwise down the spire when viewed with the apex toward the observer and having the aperture situated on the left of the axis when held with the spire uppermost and with the aperture opening toward the observer compare dextral sense b

Examples of sinistral in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The majority of snails are dextral, but sinistral forms have evolved time and time again. —Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 7 Dec. 2010

There is no position in the Satsuma snail Kama Sutra that will allow a dextral and sinistral snail to mate. —Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 7 Dec. 2010

Yes, Obama and McCain are both sinistral, a rather unlikely occurrence since just 7-10% of adults are left handed. —Neuroskeptic, Discover Magazine, 30 July 2010

Six of 32 dextral snails produced 17 sinistral offspring out of 6,302 total offspring. —Kristen Rogers, CNN, 2 June 2020

Its shell coiled counterclockwise to the left instead of the right, which made Jeremy a sinistral snail. —Kristen Rogers, CNN, 2 June 2020

Word History

First Known Use

1534, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

sinistral

1 of 2 adjective

si·​nis·​tral ˈsin-əs-trəl  sə-ˈnis- 

: of, relating to, or inclined to the left

especially : left-handed

sinistral

2 of 2 noun

: a person exhibiting dominance of the left hand and eye : a left-handed person