left-handed

left-handed — adjective

IPA/ˌleftˈhæn.dɪd/
KK[lˌɛfthˈændɪd]IPA/ˌleftˈhæn.dɪd/

1. having the hand on the left side as the one you normally write and work with

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

having the hand on the left side as the one you normally write and work with

Example

Aarav is left-handed, so he smudges ink on narrow classroom desks.

be left-handed

Christopher throws left-handed and bats from the opposite side at practice.

sports use: throws left-handed

Common collocations
  • be left-handed
  • left-handed child
  • left-handed player
  • left-handed writer
  • left-handed batter
Synonyms
  • southpaw

    informal and especially common in sports

  • sinistral

    formal or technical, used in science more than daily speech

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

be left-handed

left-handed + person/player/child

Usage Note

Most often used after be or before a noun such as child, player, or writer. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense describes the person, not the tool made for that person.

Common Mistakes

My sister is left-hand.
My sister is left-handed.
use 'left-handed' for a person; 'left-hand' is used for position or some object labels.

2. made for people who use the hand on their left side more easily than the other o

2.adjectiveB1
Definition

made for people who use the hand on their left side more easily than the other one

Example

Alessia ordered left-handed scissors because standard ones twisted the paper.

left-handed + scissors

The workshop keeps two left-handed guitars for new students to borrow.

left-handed + guitar

Common collocations
  • left-handed scissors
  • left-handed guitar
  • left-handed mouse
  • left-handed can opener
  • left-handed glove
Synonyms
  • left-hand

    shorter label often used in product names or shop catalogues

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

left-handed + scissors/guitar/mouse/tool

Usage Note

Usually appears before nouns naming tools, instruments, or sports equipment. Distinguish from sense 1: here the object is specially made for a left-handed user, not simply owned by one.

Common Mistakes

I need a scissors for left-hand people.
I need left-handed scissors.
English normally uses the compound adjective before the noun.

3. performed with the left hand as the main working hand

3.adjectiveB2
Definition

performed with the left hand as the main working hand

Example

Yan made a quick left-handed pass across the wet basketball court.

left-handed + pass

The surgeon used a left-handed grip while tying the final stitch.

left-handed + grip

Common collocations
  • left-handed pass
  • left-handed serve
  • left-handed punch
  • left-handed catch
  • left-handed grip
Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

left-handed + pass/serve/punch/grip

Usage Note

Usually modifies nouns such as pass, serve, punch, catch, or grip. It describes how one move is made and does not by itself say whether the person is generally left-handed.

Common Mistakes

The boxer threw a left hand punch.
The boxer threw a left-handed punch.
use the full compound adjective when describing how the action was made.

left-handed — adverb

IPA/ˌleft ˈhændɪd/
KK[lˌɛfthˈændɪd]IPA/ˌleft ˈhændɪd/

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

Left-handed is the normal everyday word for a person who naturally writes, throws, or does most tasks with the left hand. Southpaw means the same thing, but it is informal and heard mostly in sports such as boxing, baseball, and tennis. Ambidextrous is different: it describes someone who can use both hands well, not simply someone whose left hand is stronger. Left-hand usually does not describe a person at all; it more often labels objects or positions, as in 'left-hand drawer' or 'left-hand guitar'. So you can say 'Aarav is left-handed' or 'The coach praised the young southpaw', but not 'Aarav is left-hand.' If someone switches easily between both hands, ambidextrous is the better choice.

left-handed ↗southpawambidextrousleft-hand ↗

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

Formed in English from left and handed. It first described people who naturally used the left hand in place of the right, and the same idea later extended to tools, movements, and actions done that way.