handheld

adjective

hand·​held ˈhan(d)-ˌheld 

-ˈheld

: held in the hand

especially : designed to be operated while being held in the hand

handheld computers

handheld

ˈhan(d)-ˌheld 

noun

Examples of handheld in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Pulse oximeters gained prominence during the Covid-19 pandemic, offering anyone a handheld tool to take stock of their blood oxygen level. — Anil Oza, STAT, 6 Oct. 2026

The film was shot in just six days with handheld digital video cameras, an approach that shaped the performances as much as the visual style. — Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 3 Oct. 2026

There were handheld American flags on skinny sticks, midsize ones to display on a wall and majestic formal flags adorned with silky gold fringe. — Jennifer Smith Richards, ProPublica, 2 Oct. 2026

Today, leaker Gotou_3rd seemingly revealed that AMD’s next handheld chips, the Ryzen Z3 and Z3 Extreme, will also be 25mm by 25mm chips. — Sean Hollister, The Verge, 1 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1891, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for handheld

• barrelled
• beheld
• bushveld
• chiselled
• compelled
• dispelled
• excelled
• expelled
• impelled
• marvelled
• misspelled
• modelled

Kids Definition

handheld

adjective

hand·​held -ˌheld 

: held in the hand

especially : designed to be used while being held in the hand

a handheld computer

handheld noun