longhand

American  

[lawng-hand, long-] / ˈlɔŋˌhænd, ˈlɒŋ- /

noun

1. writing of the ordinary kind, in which words are written out in full (distinguished from shorthand).

---

adjective

1. using longhand.

   longhand writing.

2. written in longhand.

   a longhand account of the meeting.

longhand British  

/ ˈlɒŋˌhænd /

noun

1. ordinary handwriting, in which letters, words, etc, are set down in full, as opposed to shorthand or to typing

---

Etymology

Origin of longhand

First recorded in 1660–70; long ¹ + hand

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

longhand

The high-school dropout read urban crime fiction, then wrote his own stories longhand in notebooks.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 16, 2026

And while other companies began to digitize operations, Samyang’s employees did their books in longhand.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 5, 2024

But starting in the late 1990s, Streisand began writing down memories — in longhand, because she couldn’t type.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 5, 2023

She started making notes - writing longhand, in pencil - in 1999.

From BBC ● Nov. 5, 2023

In his nearly illegible longhand, he wrote and then tore up several drafts trying to find just the right words to convey his conflicted beliefs.

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson

Related Words

• calligraphy
• manuscript
• scrawl
• script
• writing