English Reference
Noun

handkerchief

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈhæŋkɝtʃif/ UK /hˈændkətʃˌiːf/ hand·ker·chief UK spelling handkerchief's, handkerchief's

n.a small square of cloth used for blowing your nose or wiping your face. You usually keep it in your pocket or bag.

n.a square piece of fabric, typically cotton or linen, intended for personal hygiene or as a clothing accessory. Often contrasted with disposable paper tissues.


SIMPLE

He pulled a clean handkerchief from his pocket.

CONTEXTUAL

She offered her silk handkerchief to her friend, who was crying after the movie.

COMPLEX

While paper tissues have largely replaced the traditional cloth handkerchief for hygiene, it remains a staple of formal menswear as a decorative pocket square.

Usage

The plural can be spelled as either 'handkerchiefs' or 'handkerchieves', though the former is more common in modern English.

He said he was given the smaller items to iron, including handkerchiefs and underpants.

The Guardian· 14 Aug 2026

From hand + kerchief.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated