handheld

American  

[hand-held] / ˈhændˌhɛld /

Or hand-held

adjective

1. held in the hand or hands.

   a handheld torch.

2. small enough to be used or operated while being held in the hand or hands.

   a handheld hair drier.

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noun

1. something small enough to be used or operated while held in the hand or hands.

   She traded in her bulky old movie camera for a handheld.

Etymology

Origin of handheld

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

They used handheld shovels to excavate blocks of salt, which were processed locally before being shipped around the country.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

The gaming giant said the changes, taking effect from 2 April, would see the recommended price for retailers of its PS5, PS5 Pro and PlayStation Portal handheld device rise around the world.

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

"Because we suspect this ability may be more widespread than currently documented," Osuna-Mascaró says, "we invite readers who have observed cows or bulls using sticks or other handheld objects for purposeful actions to contact us."

From Science Daily • Mar. 26, 2026

Filming from the ground floor with handheld cameras that wouldn’t stir museum security’s suspicion, P.A.I.N. captured a truly remarkable sight as the Sackler’s blizzard came to life.

From Salon • Mar. 14, 2026

After Radar finds the nearest BP on his handheld, we decide to wake up Lacey and Ben.

From "Paper Towns" by John Green