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• handler
  handler

  noun

  a person or thing that handles.
• Handler
  Handler

  noun

  Daniel . born 1970, US writer for older children, best known for the macabre humour of his A Series of Unfortunate Events , a sequence of books written in the persona of Lemony Snicket

handler

American  

[hand-ler] / ˈhænd lər /

noun

handlers plural

1. a person or thing that handles.

2. Boxing. a person who assists in the training of a fighter or is the fighter's second during a fight.

3. a person who exhibits a dog in a bench show or field trial.

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handler ¹ British  

/ ˈhændlə /

noun

1. a person, esp a police officer, in charge of a specially trained dog

2. a person who handles some specified thing

   a baggage handler

3. a person who holds or incites a dog, gamecock, etc, esp in a race or contest

4. the trainer or second of a boxer

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Handler ² British  

/ ˈhændlə /

noun

1. Daniel . born 1970, US writer for older children, best known for the macabre humour of his A Series of Unfortunate Events , a sequence of books written in the persona of Lemony Snicket

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• handlers
  plural

Etymology

Origin of handler

1350–1400; Middle English. See handle, -er ¹

Explanation

A handler is someone whose job involves dealing with a particular object, like a baggage handler at the airport. When you're responsible for handling or taking care of something, whether it's food or insurance claims, you're a handler. Other kinds of handlers manage people or animals — a dog handler is a type of trainer, for example. And some political advisors are also known as handlers: "The President had his handlers answer all the reporters' questions."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

handler Handler handlers

Prosecutors alleged that Rogers dealt with a Chinese handler who, under the alias Hummin Lee, posed as an academic when he introduced himself at a conference in 2013.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026

In her previous job as mail handler, she worried that her position was going to be eliminated or even outsourced to a robot.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026

When a dog alerts to something, rescuers send a second animal to confirm the finding, said Sylvia Arango, a canine handler since 1998 who manages Sisu.

From Barron's ● Jul. 5, 2026

Then, when they actually locate a human on the ground, they are handed the toy as a reward by their handler.

From BBC ● Jun. 29, 2026

“Okay, guys,” said the handler when they were outside on the sidewalk.

From "Dog Squad" by Chris Grabenstein

Chelsea Handler didn’t mince words when she offered her take on Hinchcliffe, as well as Shane Gillis, who also performed a set during the roast.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 27, 2026

Anna Handler, a rapidly rising young conductor, will be given the new title of conductor-in-residence for the next three seasons.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 26, 2026

Sharapova aims for “women-to-women conversations” on her show, featuring guests like Chelsea Handler and Christine Dorfler.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 15, 2026

The first season of “Pretty Tough” will feature interviews with guests including comedian Chelsea Handler and National Football League CFO Christine Dorfler.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 15, 2026

I recognized the Times ’ M. S. Handler and introduced myself; we warmly shook hands and commandeered a little two-chair table.

From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey

This week extra clinical staff have been deployed to support the call handlers and offer advice to callers.

From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026

In a statement after his sentencing, the agency said he had been recruited by Russia's FSB in Vienna in 2018, but several years had passed before his handlers resumed contact with him in December 2024.

From BBC ● Jun. 26, 2026

U.S. citizen Thomas Pauken II pleaded guilty to acting as an unregistered Chinese agent, having received at least $100,000 for recruiting informants, providing communication devices, and relaying intelligence to handlers in China.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 9, 2026

AFP journalists saw rescue dogs and their handlers scour the pile of broken concrete and jagged metal bars.

From Barron's ● Jun. 9, 2026

He could meet with his KGB handlers with ease, since, as far as MI6 was concerned, meeting with Soviet agents was part of Blake's job.

From "Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia" by Marc Favreau

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