Standard Lemma guide

left-handedness

noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The state of being left-handed.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: mancinism, sinistrality

Antonyms: dextrality, right-handedness

2

noun

Meaning 2

preference for using the left hand

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: sinistrality

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: handedness, laterality

3

noun

Meaning 3

the status of being born of a morganatic marriage

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: status, position

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English left-handed Proto-Germanic *-in- Proto-Indo-European *-h2 Proto-Indo-European *-éh2 Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-eh2yéti Proto-Indo-European *-h2ti Proto-Germanic *-ōną Proto-Germanic *-inōną Proto-Indo-European *-dyé- Proto-Germanic *-atjaną Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *-þuz Proto-Germanic *-assuz Proto-Germanic *-inassuz Proto-West Germanic *-nassī Old English -nes Middle English -nesse English -ness English left-handedness From left-handed + -ness.

Across languages

Translations

18 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: vasenkätisyys — state of being left-handed
  • French: gaucherie — state of being left-handed
  • French: sinistralité — state of being left-handed
  • German: Linkshändigkeit — state of being left-handed
  • German: Sinistralität — state of being left-handed
  • Greek: αριστεροχειρία (aristerocheiría) — state of being left-handed
  • Hungarian: balkezesség — state of being left-handed
  • Polish: leworęczność — state of being left-handed
  • Portuguese: sinistralidade — state of being left-handed
  • Slovak: ľaváctvo — state of being left-handed
  • Slovak: ľavorukosť — state of being left-handed
  • Spanish: zurdera — state of being left-handed
  • Spanish: zurdería — state of being left-handed
  • Spanish: lateralidad zurda — state of being left-handed
  • Spanish: sinistralidad — state of being left-handed
  • Swedish: vänsterhänthet — state of being left-handed
  • Turkish: solaklık — state of being left-handed
  • Volapük: nedetaskil — state of being left-handed