Jump To:

• 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.

---

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

---

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

---

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

The BBC revealed the attacks were ordered on behalf of Russia, with an anonymous handler known as EL promising payment to Carpiuc's accomplice, Roman Lavrynovych.

From BBC ● Oct. 17, 2026

Holt worked with Libyan intelligence assets in the 1980s and was the handler of double agent Abdul Majid Giaka, whose information became central to the investigation into the Lockerbie bombing.

From BBC ● Jul. 25, 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

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

It was dangerous for a spy handler of his stature to get involved romantically with one of his spies.

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

Meanwhile his son, Jack, won the Young Handler world title with his dog, Cydros Boss.

From BBC ● Sep. 27, 2026

Plus, TSA might let you bring a water bottle through security, and Chelsea Handler wants you to keep your shoes on.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026

Big cheers to Chelsea Handler for taking up a travel etiquette cause we can probably all agree on: bare feet on planes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026

“A couple of years ago, people doubted whether the industry could ever get back to $10 billion,” said Eric Handler, media and entertainment analyst at Roth Capital Partners.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026

Mrs. Handler was quiet and thoughtful after Malcolm’s departure.

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

She allegedly filmed their home and vehicles and reported information back to handlers.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 5, 2026

Call off the swarms of lawyers and PR handlers, the howling about railroading and witch hunts.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026

When I’m making out with Amita, there are legitimately two men — two puppet handlers — on the ground controlling a little possum that I can see.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 31, 2026

The cables date back to the months before Lockerbie and include notes of conversations between Giaka and Holt and two earlier CIA handlers.

From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2026

Outside Hagenback’s Animal Show, the most famous traveling zoo of the day, handlers prodded four trained lions into full roar.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---

Related Words

• assistant
• broker
• commissioner
• deputy
• lawyer
• minister
• officer
• operative
• operator
• promoter
• representative
• worker

---