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handsy

American  
[hand-zee] / ˈhænd zi /

adjective

Informal.
  1. tending to touch people with the hands, especially in an inappropriate or sexual way.

    She saw that he was getting handsy with some of the female guests.

  2. (in golf, baseball, etc.) characterized by excessive hand and wrist movement.

    a handsy swing.


Other Word Forms


Etymology

Origin of handsy

First recorded in 1960–65; either hands ( def. ) + -y 1 ( def. ), or hand ( def. ) + -sy ( def. )


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

It’s fraught enough to try such a handsy, dangerous, co-dependent activity with a friend or sibling.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 16, 2026

In a clip that has been circulating on social media, students can be heard calling out "Beetlejuice" at Boebert, in reference to her handsy, vape-plumed wild night at the theater in Colorado last year.

From Salon ● May 2, 2024

In September, Boebert was tossed out of a Denver showing of the musical “Beetlejuice” after vaping, carrying on and getting handsy with her date.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 1, 2024

There are smaller characters crystallized in a flash: Lazar’s Duncan dainty and handsy, Maria Dizzia’s Lady Macduff heartbreakingly resolute.

From New York Times ● Apr. 29, 2022

That heat took the form of 125-mph serves that were as dangerous from their placement as their power and handsy groundstrokes that were deceptively deep and varied.

From Washington Post ● Sep. 12, 2021

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