penmanship

noun

pen·​man·​ship ˈpen-mən-ˌship How to pronounce penmanship (audio)
1
: the art or practice of writing with the pen
2
: quality or style of handwriting

Examples of penmanship in a Sentence

My third grade teacher thought it was important for us to learn penmanship. doctors are famous for their illegible penmanship
Recent Examples on the Web The columns were neatly ordered, the penmanship careful. Jonathan Blitzer, The New Yorker, 28 Jan. 2024 Lousy penmanship didn’t stop me from becoming someone whose profession depends on shaping letters. Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2024 Finally, your penmanship on those Fantasy Suite cards is impeccable. EW.com, 17 Nov. 2023 His ostentatious penmanship on the Declaration of Independence is recognized far more widely than any of his political accomplishments, philosophical inclinations, or personal exploits. Guy Denton, National Review, 20 Jan. 2024 Fear of God briefs Custom Stamp: Chances are, if you were born before 1980, your penmanship is aberrant. Kristen Bateman, Vogue, 18 Dec. 2023 One February day in 1864, a rich British landowner and his son received a joint death threat that was remarkable for its penmanship and its politeness. Anna Mundow, WSJ, 15 Dec. 2023 Look at this penmanship, poetry, movement and song. Salamishah Tillet, New York Times, 20 Sep. 2023 Now, even non-publishers could exchange chicken-scratch penmanship and sloppy inkwells for precise, easy-to-read type, speeding business, legal, medical and personal communications. Nick Yetto, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Sep. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'penmanship.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1695, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of penmanship was in 1695

Dictionary Entries Near penmanship

Cite this Entry

“Penmanship.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/penmanship. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

penmanship

noun
pen·​man·​ship -mən-ˌship How to pronounce penmanship (audio)
1
: the art or practice of writing with the pen
2
: quality or style of handwriting

More from Merriam-Webster on penmanship

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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