having the left hand more dominant or effective than the right; preferably using the left hand: a left-handed pitcher.
adapted to or performed by the left hand: a left-handed tool; a left-handed tennis serve.
situated on the side of the left hand.
Machinery.
rotating counterclockwise.
noting a helical or spiral member, as a gear tooth or screw thread, that twists counterclockwise as it recedes from an observer.
Building Trades. left-hand (def. 3).
ambiguous or doubtful and often unfavorable or derogatory by implication: a left-handed compliment.
clumsy or awkward.
of, relating to, or issuing from a morganatic marriage: so called from the custom, in morganatic marriage ceremonies, of having the bridegroom give his left hand to the bride.
adverb
with the left hand: He writes left-handed.
toward the left hand; in a counterclockwise direction: The strands of the rope are laid left-handed.
Origin of left-handed
Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at left1, handed
OTHER WORDS FROM left-handed
left-hand·ed·ly,adverbleft-hand·ed·ness,noun
Words nearby left-handed
left-footer, left gastric vein, left gastro-omental vein, left-hand, left-hand buoy, left-handed, left-handed compliment, left-hander, left heart, left hepatic duct, left holding the bag