handedness

noun

hand·​ed·​ness ˈhan-dəd-nəs 

1

: a tendency to use one hand rather than the other

2

a

: the property of an object (such as a molecule) of not being identical with its mirror image : chirality

b

: either of the two configurations of an object that may exist in forms which are nonidentical mirror images

Examples of handedness in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The roster shuffle was designed to help find more consistent playing time for the players who were producing the most, regardless of opposing handedness, including Tommy Pham and Lars Nootbaar. —Katie Woo, The Athletic, 26 Aug. 2024

Understanding the relationship between handedness and impacts to the clavicle is crucial. —Ashley Strickland, CNN, 31 Oct. 2024

Collarbones capture information about age, development and growth as well as handedness, or which hand crew members favored. —Ashley Strickland, CNN, 2 Nov. 2024

Shining light on the Mary Rose: Identifying chemical differences in human aging and handedness in the clavicles of sailors using Raman spectroscopy Maryrose.org. —Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 1 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1915, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

handedness

noun

hand·​ed·​ness -nəs 

1

: a tendency to use one hand rather than the other

2

: the property of an object (as a molecule) of not being identical with its mirror image

3

: the property of having either a clockwise or counterclockwise motion (as the corkscrew movement of some microorganisms or their flagella or cilia)