Offhand

Pronunciation

• US IPA: /ˌɔfˈhænd/
• Rhymes: -ænd

Alternative forms

• off-hand

Origin

From Middle English *ofhande, *ofhende, from Old English ofhende ("absent, lost"), equivalent to - + hand. Cognate with Icelandic afhendur. Compare onhand.

Full definition of offhand

Adjective

1. without planning or thinking aheadShe gave an offhand speech.
2. careless; without sufficient thought or considerationHe doesn't realise how hurtful his offhand remarks can be.
3. curt, abrupt, unfriendlyShe was quite offhand with me yesterday.

Synonyms

• (without planning) impromptu, extemporaneous, off-the-cuff; see also

Adverb

1. right away, immediately, without thinking about it
• Offhand, I'd guess that that's a yellow-bellied sapsucker.
• 1854: William Makepeace Thackeray, The Rose and the Ring - We will have no more of this shilly-shallying! Call the Archbishop, and let the Prince and Princess be married offhand!
2. in an offhand manner

Anagrams

• hand off, hand-off, handoff