manual

American  

[man-yoo-uhl, -yuhl] / ˈmæn yu əl, -yəl /

adjective

1. done, operated, worked, etc., by the hand or hands rather than by an electrical or electronic device.

   a manual gearshift.

2. involving or using human effort, skill, power, energy, etc.; physical.

   manual labor.

3. of or relating to the hand or hands.

   manual deformities.

4. of the nature of a manual or handbook.

   manual instructions.

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noun

1. a small book, especially one giving information or instructions.

   a manual of mathematical tables.

2. a nonelectric or nonelectronic typewriter; a typewriter whose keys and carriage may be powered solely by the typist's hands.

3. Military. the prescribed drill in handling a rifle.

   the manual of arms.

4. Music. a keyboard, especially one of several belonging to a pipe organ.

5. Automotive. manual transmission.

manual British  

/ ˈmænjʊəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to a hand or hands

2. operated or done by hand

   manual controls

3. physical, as opposed to mental or mechanical

   manual labour

4. by human labour rather than automatic or computer-aided means

5. of, relating to, or resembling a manual

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noun

1. a book, esp of instructions or information

   a car manual

2. music one of the keyboards played by hand on an organ

3. military the prescribed drill with small arms

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonmanual
  adjective
• manually
  adverb
• unmanual
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of manual

First recorded in 1375–1425; from Latin manuālis (adjective), manuāle (noun) “(something) that can be held in the hand” ( manu(s) “hand” + -ālis, -āle -al ¹, -al ² ); replacing late Middle English manuel, from Middle French, from Latin, as above

Explanation

Something manual is operated by human hands. Before Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin, picking cotton was a manual job. Nowadays, farmers might need to read a manual to know how to operate a cotton gin. The word manual comes from Latin root words meaning "of the hand," and the adjective form of the word still maintains that meaning — "by hand or of the hands." The adjective definition is also extended a bit to mean something done by hand and not machine, and the implication is usually that it is physical work. As a noun, manual means "an instruction booklet or handbook."

Example Sentences

“The top of the storage tank began to bulge, and fumes released for approximately 5 minutes until employees activated the manual fire suppression system.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 4, 2026

The environmental assessment found that approximately 85 to 97 percent of the total impact of manual dishwashing comes from water consumption.

From Science Daily • Jun. 1, 2026

With Cape Cod emptied of wildness, maybe Thoreau’s “Cape Cod” is the only manual we have left.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 29, 2026

This allows the firm to verify records on a monthly cadence that aligns with a company’s financial close, eliminating the need for manual client schedules, she said.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 28, 2026

She and Levi had gone to the local Chevrolet dealer to fill out the entry form and pick up a copy of the official rules, which read like a familiarization manual for an airplane.

From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly

Related Words

• cookbook
• guide
• guidebook
• handbook
• reference book
• text
• textbook
• workbook