Word
Definition
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.
Examples
“He pulled a clean handkerchief from his pocket.”
“She offered her silk handkerchief to her friend, who was crying after the movie.”
“While paper tissues have largely replaced the traditional cloth handkerchief for hygiene, it remains a staple of formal menswear as a decorative pocket square.”
Examples
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.
Real-World Examples
“Flipping through an 80-year-old handbook that details how to run a ryokan, it mentions what to do with a guest’s handkerchief: how to wash it, properly fold it and return it.” “He said he was given the smaller items to iron, including handkerchiefs and underpants.” Etymology
From hand + kerchief.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/handkerchief
「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0