Definition of penmanshipnext
1
as in handwriting
the form or style of a particular person's writing doctors are famous for their illegible penmanship

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2
as in calligraphy
writing done by hand the students spend far more time honing their computer skills than they do improving their penmanship

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of penmanship Cursive Academy, founded by husband and wife Terrell and Chelsea Whittington, earned its nonprofit status in November 2025 and partners with organizations, companies and individuals to resurrect the art of penmanship. Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026 The penmanship alone—careful and deliberate—signals the intentionality behind every detail. Essence, 25 Jan. 2026 These handwritten letters, which lend a quaint quality to the storytelling, are a delightful throwback to an era when penmanship was celebrated. Shruti Mutalik, Baltimore Sun, 7 Jan. 2026 The phonograph didn’t suffer from poor penmanship. IEEE Spectrum, 6 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for penmanship
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penmanship
Noun
  • According to a Meta news release, the team explored hundreds of designs, from all-caps to literal handwriting.
    Greta Cross, USA Today, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The researchers demonstrated the concept using signals whose characteristics changed over time, including handwriting and object movement at different speeds.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 8 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • A lot of effort went into researching different mystical, strange calligraphy and all kinds of diagram stuff that are in that.
    Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Set in a former Ottoman villa, the museum houses an extensive collection of Ottoman calligraphy, paintings, and decorative arts, alongside rotating exhibitions that explore both Turkish and international artists.
    CNT Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Aug. 2026

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“Penmanship.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penmanship. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

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