# handsome

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ˈhæn.səm/ · frequency rank #4,950

## Definitions
1. Having a pleasing appearance, good-looking, attractive, particularly
2. Having a pleasing appearance, good-looking, attractive
3. Having a pleasing appearance, good-looking, attractive
4. Good, appealing, appropriate.
5. Good, appealing, appropriate.
6. Good, appealing, appropriate.
7. Generous or noble in character.
8. Ample; moderately large.
9. Of people and things: dexterous; skillful.

## Etymology
From Middle English handsum, hondsom, equivalent to hand + -some. Compare Dutch handzaam, German Low German handsaam. The original sense was ‘easy to handle or use’, hence ‘suitable’ and ‘apt, clever’ (mid 16th century), giving rise to the current appreciatory senses (late 16th century).

## Easily confused with
- **handsomely** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/handsome-vs-handsomely)

## Common misspellings (12)
`ahndsome`, `hadnsome`, `handdsome`, `handosme`, `handsmoe`, `handsoem`, `handsomme`, `handssome`, `hanndsome`, `hansdome`, `hhandsome`, `hnadsome`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/handsome