Handwritten

/ˈhændˌrɪtn/

adjectiveBeginner📊CommonTechnology
1 meaning3 questions

Definitions

1

Produced or written by hand rather than by a machine such as a typewriter or computer.

/ˈhændˌrɪtn/

adjectiveneutralBeginner
Technology

Written by hand; not printed or typed.

She received a handwritten thank-you note.

💡 Simply: It's like when you write something down with a pen or pencil instead of typing on a computer. It's the opposite of something printed or made by a machine!

👶 For kids: Written by hand, like when you write with a crayon!

More Examples

2

The recipe was written in her grandmother's handwritten script.

3

The artist's personal journal contained detailed, handwritten sketches.

How It's Used

General

"The handwritten letter felt more personal than an email."

Legal

"A handwritten will may be accepted in some jurisdictions."

Historical

"Many historical documents are only available in handwritten form."

Synonyms & Antonyms

Antonyms

Derived from the combination of "hand" (referring to the human hand) and "written" (the past participle of the verb "write"). Reflects the process of writing by hand, a practice predating widespread use of printing or digital methods. Historically, writing was almost exclusively handwritten until the invention of the printing press. Its usage has become more specific with the rise of technology, often implying personal, original writing as opposed to printed or typed text.

Handwritten has been used for centuries, but the rise of printing and later, computers, made its use more specific, emphasizing the unique, personal aspect of writing.

Memory tip

Imagine the feeling of pen on paper - the personal touch of *handwritten* notes.

Word Origin

LanguageOld English
Original meaning

""hand" and "written""

handwritten letterhandwritten notehandwritten manuscripthandwritten signaturehandwritten document

Common misspellings

hand writttenhand writenhand-written

Usage

30%Spoken
70%Written