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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

What happens when your boss is also the HR department, the grievance handler and the person deciding whether you get paid?

From BBC ● Aug. 1, 2026

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

There is also the work of the clinical navigators - clinicians reviewing notes taken by the call handler to weed out those in need of a rapid response.

From BBC ● 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

The degree of difficulty had just gone up, but Shanti hadn’t spent two years under the tutelage of her handler, Mrs. Mirabov, for nothing.

From "Beauty Queens" by Libba Bray

He picked up a rosette for "Supreme Champion, Oldest Handler" for his efforts.

From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2026

In response, Gillis told the Hollywood Reporter in a statement that Handler was capitalizing on the moment.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 27, 2026

Liana Handler is a recent graduate of the University of Florida, where she studied journalism with a minor in Spanish.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 26, 2026

Christopher Halpin is stepping down as IAC’s chief operating and financial officer, and Kendall Handler will stop serving as chief legal officer, IAC said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 28, 2026

“It’s a reporter named Handler, from the Times—” he resumed.

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

He was in "constant communication" with his handlers, including sharing documents marked "secret", he added.

From BBC ● Jun. 26, 2026

They are also running remote desktop applications such as AnyDesk and TeamViewer that enable dark-fleet owners and handlers to control and tamper with a ship’s systems from afar.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 15, 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

Excavations at the active pits and conservation of fossils will continue during the closure, albeit in different conditions than many fossil handlers are used to.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 6, 2026

In the winner’s circle, the police cordon gave way and the reporters and fans pressed in again, wedging Seabiscuit and his handlers into the corner.

From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand

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