handedness

noun

hand·ed·ness ˈhan-dəd-nəs

: a tendency to use one hand rather than the other

: the property of an object (such as a molecule) of not being identical with its mirror image : chirality

: either of the two configurations of an object that may exist in forms which are nonidentical mirror images

Examples of handedness in a Sentence

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

In the 1980s, Kagan found that a catalyst, a helper that speeds up a reaction, does not have to be entirely made of molecules with the same handedness to make a purely single-handed product. — Mallory Green, The Conversation, 8 Oct. 2026 Life’s one-handedness puzzle The duo’s research has both given chemists fundamental new tools that are widely used in their daily work and awakened interest in the chemistry of life’s origins, the committee said. — Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2026 Chemists knew that for such a reaction to occur, the catalyst (the substance that drives the reaction) would have to have a specific chirality (handedness) itself. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Oct. 2026 For now, his aggression, right-handedness and faceoff prowess are key assets for a team lacking forward depth. — Janson Duench, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for handedness

Word History

First Known Use

1915, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of handedness was in 1915

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handed

handedness

Handel

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“Handedness.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/handedness. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Medical Definition

handedness

noun

hand·ed·ness -nəs

: a tendency to use one hand rather than the other

: the property of an object (as a molecule) of not being identical with its mirror image

: the property of having either a clockwise or counterclockwise motion (as the corkscrew movement of some microorganisms or their flagella or cilia)

handedness

noun

Examples of handedness in a Sentence

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Medical Definition

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