offhand
Americanadverb
adjective
-
informal, casual, curt, or brusque.
an offhand manner.
-
Also offhanded. done or made offhand.
- Antonyms:
- considered
-
Glassmaking. working manually and without the use of molds.
offhand blowing.
adjective
-
without care, thought, or consideration; sometimes, brusque or ungracious
an offhand manner
-
without preparation or warning; impromptu
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of offhand
Explanation
The adjective offhand describes a remark or comment that is made without previous thought or preparation. If you are at a wedding, you may want to make a few offhand but nice remarks about the newlyweds. As an adjective, offhand can mean careless, brusque, or inconsiderate. You may frequently have to remind young children that offhand comments about people's looks or intelligence can hurt their feelings. Offhand can also be used as an adverb, meaning without thought or planning. You may not be able to say offhand, but do you have any idea how many people are in your class at school?
Vocabulary lists containing offhand
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
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The Things They Carried
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Stargirl
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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.
No longer did he speak in the offhand style of “80-odd years.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 1, 2026
One noted that in other, mixed-gender support groups he attends, he sometimes worries about how offhand comments he makes will be perceived.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 23, 2026
On Wednesday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent proved my point for me with an offhand comment at Davos.
From Barron's • Jan. 22, 2026
There’s outrage underneath every offhand remark and heartbreak in watching this fraying community turn on each other.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 10, 2025
“I got one fella. Raggedy fella. Beautiful offhand shot, if I say so meseF.”
From "The Killer Angels: The Classic Novel of the Civil War" by Michael Shaara
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.
