handheld

adjective

hand·​held ˈhan(d)-ˌheld How to pronounce handheld (audio)
-ˈheld
: held in the hand
especially : designed to be operated while being held in the hand
handheld computers
handheld noun

Examples of handheld in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
That’s beginning to change as new approaches to wellness, handheld self-massage tools and spiky mats keep getting promoted on social media. Daryl Austin, USA Today, 30 July 2025 Are there more versatile and more powerful handheld gaming options available? Mitch Wallace, Forbes.com, 28 July 2025 The heat was certainly a factor for the audience, which brought handheld folding fans and tried to stay hydrated in the near 100-degree temperatures. Courtney Devores, Charlotte Observer, 28 July 2025 On my first day at the clinic, Terrazas had run a handheld scanner around my mouth, then projected the 3-D images onto a screen. Burkhard Bilger, New Yorker, 28 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for handheld

Word History

First Known Use

1891, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of handheld was in 1891

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Handheld.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/handheld. Accessed 3 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

handheld

adjective
hand·​held -ˌheld How to pronounce handheld (audio)
: held in the hand
especially : designed to be used while being held in the hand
a handheld computer
handheld noun

More from Merriam-Webster on handheld

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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