manhandle

/ˈmænˌhæn.dəl/

//ˈmænˌhæn.dəl// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"manhandle" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“manhandle” is an uncommon English word, ranked #95,110 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#95,110
frequency rank, English
9
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To move something heavy by force of men, without aid of levers, pulleys, machine, or tackles.

Key facts for manhandle
PropertyValue
Headwordmanhandle
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ˈmænˌhæn.dəl/
Letters9
Frequency rank#95,110
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “manhandle” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). manhandle lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for manhandle is 9 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈmænˌhæn.dəl/. Corpus data places it at rank #95,110 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 4 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

We couldn't generate a plausible misspelling set for manhandle, since its letter pattern doesn't lend itself to common typo substitutions. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, since its spelling is unusual enough that it doesn't cluster with a lookalike.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English manne-handlen, man handelen, equivalent to man (“male person”) + handle. The correct English form is manhandle, spelled M-A-N-H-A-N-D-L-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    To move something heavy by force of men, without aid of levers, pulleys, machine, or tackles.
  2. 2
    To assault or beat up a person.
  3. 3
    To mishandle; to handle roughly; to mangle.
  4. 4
    To control (a machine, vehicle, situation, etc.) by means of physical strength.

Etymology

From Middle English manne-handlen, man handelen, equivalent to man (“male person”) + handle.

Antonyms

womanhandle

This word in other languages

maltratar(Español)malmener(Français)angreifen(Deutsch)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "manhandle"?
"manhandle" is spelled M-A-N-H-A-N-D-L-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈmænˌhæn.dəl/.
What does "manhandle" mean?
As a verb, "manhandle" means: To move something heavy by force of men, without aid of levers, pulleys, machine, or tackles.
How do you pronounce "manhandle"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "manhandle" is /ˈmænˌhæn.dəl/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "manhandle"?
From Middle English manne-handlen, man handelen, equivalent to man (“male person”) + handle. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “manhandle”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is M-A-N-H-A-N-D-L-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈmænˌhæn.dəl/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list