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

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

The unorthodox left field wall combined with Rogers’ handedness was perhaps a reason the Orioles had interest in him given opposing teams normally load their lineups with right-handed hitters against southpaws. —Jacob Calvin Meyer, Baltimore Sun, 2 Aug. 2024

Hyde often uses his southpaws to face left-handed batters, hoping to use the handedness advantage to piece together the end of games. —Jacob Calvin Meyer, Baltimore Sun, 4 July 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)