single-handed

American  

[sing-guhl-han-did] / ˈsɪŋ gəlˈhæn dɪd /

adjective

1. accomplished or done by one person alone.

   a single-handed victory; single-handed sailing.

2. by one's own effort; unaided.

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adverb

1. by oneself; alone; without aid.

   He built the garage single-handed.

single-handed British  

adjective

1. unaided or working alone

   a single-handed crossing of the Atlantic

2. having or operated by one hand or one person only

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Usage

What does single-handed mean? Single-handed is used to describe something done or accomplished alone—without help from anyone, as in a single-handed attempt. It can also be used as an adverb meaning the same thing as single-handedly, as in Carol completed the project single-handed—she did every last thing herself. Single-handed is also used in situations in which someone has done something without help from anyone else even though they were available, as in She beat the other team single-handed—scoring the final 15 points of the game by herself. Example: This usually takes three or four people, so how did you manage to do it single-handed?

Other Word Forms

• single-handedly adverb
• single-handedness noun

Etymology

Origin of single-handed

First recorded in 1700–10

Explanation

If something is completely independent, with no help from anyone, it's single-handed. Your solo hiking expedition, for example, is single-handed. Use the adjective single-handed to describe something that's unassisted, or that's achieved without aid from other people. Your single-handed campaign for school president is undertaken without anyone's help, and your mom's single-handed parenting was done on her own. From the 1400's, the word single was used to mean "unsupported by others," and single-handed first came into use around 1700.

Example Sentences

I've got so much love for the genre, and I am the one who has been on a single-handed campaign to get "Bridget Jones" into the Criterion Collection.

From Salon • Jan. 15, 2025

The single-handed yacht race began off the coast of France in November, and Hare had been in 15th place when the mast snapped.

From BBC • Dec. 28, 2024

He managed to accomplish virtually nothing: Almost none of his promises for single-handed economic revitalization, world domination, or intrepid urban crime-solving panned out.

From Slate • Feb. 14, 2024

Born Maria Anna Sophie Cecilia Kalogeropoulos in New York in December 1923 to Greek parents, Callas was credited with the almost single-handed revival of the Italian bel canto vocal technique.

From Reuters • Oct. 25, 2023

I want gallantry from her, swash buckling, heroism, single-handed combat.

From "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood