handedness

American  

[han-did-nis] / ˈhæn dɪd nɪs /

noun

1. a tendency to use one hand more than the other.

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handedness British  

/ ˈhændɪdnɪs /

noun

1. the tendency to use one hand more skilfully or in preference to the other

2. the property of some chemical substances of rotating the plane of polarized light in one direction rather than another See also dextrorotation laevorotation

3. the relation between the vectors of spin and momentum of neutrinos and certain other elementary particles See also helicity

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handedness Scientific  

/ hăn′dĭd-nĭs /

1. A preference for using one hand rather than the other to perform most manual tasks and activities. Most people are right-handed. Historically, it has been theorized that handedness is associated with a dominance of the opposite cerebral hemisphere of the brain, but this has not been conclusively proven. Although the scientific basis for handedness is unknown, the fact that left-handed parents more frequently have left-handed offspring suggests at least a partial genetic component. Some experts believe that children are trained to favor one hand over the other (usually the right hand.). Handedness is usually established in the first few years of life.

2. See chirality

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Etymology

Origin of handedness

First recorded in 1920–25; handed + -ness

Example Sentences

Handedness serves an essential function in living beings; many of the chemical reactions that drive our cells only work with molecules of the correct handedness.

From Scientific American • Dec. 5, 2014

Handedness: Usmanov or Moshiri allude to plenty of it by the board, specifically of the "cack" and "under" varieties.

From The Guardian • Jul. 6, 2012

Human Handedness Is for the Birds Whether you're a righty or a lefty, parrots may be able to tell us why we've come to prefer one hand over the other.

From Science Magazine • Dec. 22, 2011

"Handedness has a genetic basis, but like other complex traits — height, weight — it is complex," he said.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 8, 2011