handsy
Americanadjective
-
tending to touch people with the hands, especially in an inappropriate or sexual way.
She saw that he was getting handsy with some of the female guests.
-
(in golf, baseball, etc.) characterized by excessive hand and wrist movement.
a handsy swing.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of handsy
First recorded in 1960–65; either hands ( def. ) + -y 1 ( def. ), or hand ( def. ) + -sy ( def. )
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.
Aryan Simhadri, who portrays Percy’s best friend Grover Underwood in the series, spoke out last year about an unsettling encounter with a handsy fan when a group of “40 drunk college girls” recognized him.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 13, 2026
It’s fraught enough to try such a handsy, dangerous, co-dependent activity with a friend or sibling.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 16, 2026
They were even expected to participate in an event called Breakthrough and Conquer, where they had to tackle each other in a handsy game of football.
From Salon ● Jun. 30, 2023
There are smaller characters crystallized in a flash: Lazar’s Duncan dainty and handsy, Maria Dizzia’s Lady Macduff heartbreakingly resolute.
From New York Times ● Apr. 29, 2022
Chiefs cornerbacks played aggressively, and once officials flagged their handsy coverage, they failed to adjust.
From Washington Post ● Feb. 8, 2021
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.
