handcuff

1 of 2

noun

hand·​cuff ˈhan(d)-ˌkəf 

: a metal fastening that can be locked around a wrist and is usually connected by a chain or bar with another such fastening

—usually used in plural

handcuff

2 of 2

verb

handcuffed; handcuffing; handcuffs

transitive verb

1

: to apply handcuffs to : manacle

2

: to hold in check : make ineffective or powerless

handcuffed by strict regulations

Synonyms

Noun

• band
• bind
• bond
• bracelet
• chain
• cuff(s)
• fetter
• irons
• ligature
• manacle(s)
• shackle

Verb

• bind
• chain
• enchain
• enfetter
• fetter
• gyve
• manacle
• pinion
• shackle
• trammel

Examples of handcuff in a Sentence

Noun

the man reluctantly held out his wrists so the policeman could snap on handcuffs

Verb

wanted to take the trip, but was handcuffed by her responsibility to watch her ailing father

the fear that the new mandatory, standardized tests will handcuff the state's teachers, who will have to specifically tailor their lesson plans for the test

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Video showed Mangione, wearing a dark sweatshirt, being taken out of a vehicle in handcuffs and into the courthouse. —NBC News, 10 Dec. 2024

The troopers reads him his Miranda rights and puts him in handcuffs shortly thereafter. —Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 7 Dec. 2024

Verb

Whitfield died in the north district in 2022 while officers were handcuffing him at his parents’ home. —Peter Blanchard, The Indianapolis Star, 12 Dec. 2024

There's something undeniably sweet about this perennial classic, despite that, if it were made today, he'd be handcuffed and thrown in the slammer. —Chris Nashawaty, EW.com, 11 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1649, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1649, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

handcuff

noun

hand·​cuff

ˈhan(d)-ˌkəf

: a metal fastening locking around a wrist and usually connected by a chain or bar with another such fastening

—usually used in plural

handcuff verb