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fistful

American  
[fist-fool] / ˈfɪst fʊl /

noun

plural

fistfuls

  1. a handful.

    a fistful of pennies.

Spelling

See -ful.

Etymology

Origin of fistful

First recorded in 1605–15; fist 1 + -ful

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.

The Shah boarded a plane, scooping a fistful of Iranian dirt on his way out.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 2026

Banks, investment funds, governments, and insurance companies bought them by the fistful.

From Barron's • Feb. 24, 2026

After coming out of the water, some picked up fistful of the silver sand and rubbed it over their bodies.

From BBC • Jan. 13, 2025

Winner of a fistful of book awards, it is also one of Time’s 100 Best Fantasy Books of All Time; read it, then watch the AppleTV+ series.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 26, 2023

As we pass Yusuf’s bedroom, Rabiya darts inside and grabs a fistful of gum balls from his old-fashioned machine.

From "Amina's Voice" by Hena Khan

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.