English Reference
noun

handwriting

n.
US /ˈhænˌdɹaɪtɪŋ/ UK /hˈændɹaɪtɪŋ/ hand·writ·ing UK spelling handwritings

  1. 01 A2 Elementary

    the particular way you write with a pen or pencil that makes your writing look different from others.

    the characteristic style of penmanship unique to an individual. Uncountable in most contexts.

    Simple

    His handwriting is so messy that I can't read the address on the envelope.

    In context

    The forensic expert compared the handwriting on the ransom note with the suspect's personal journals to identify matching flourishes in the cursive.

    penmanshipscript
  2. 02 B1 Intermediate

    writing that has been done by hand rather than printed or typed.

    text produced manually with a writing implement. Often used to distinguish from digital or mechanical print.

    Simple

    The old diary was filled with beautiful handwriting from the nineteenth century.

    In context

    The archive contains several boxes of original handwriting, including letters and rough drafts that were never published in print.

    manuscriptlonghand

From hand + writing, equal to handwrite + -ing.

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

This entry
Level A2 · Elementary
Frequency Frequent
Updated