handless

Handless is an adjective meaning lacking hands or not using hands. It is formed from the noun hand plus the suffix -less, which signals absence or deprivation. The term is used in a descriptive, neutral sense in various contexts, most often to refer to organisms, tools, or interfaces that do not involve hands.

In biology, handless may describe creatures that have no hands or forelimbs, though more precise terms are typically preferred (for example, referring to limb-reduced or limb-absent species). In discussions of design and technology, handless describes devices or systems that operate without manual hand use. Examples include voice-controlled interfaces, eye-tracking or gaze-controlled systems, brain-computer interfaces, and foot-operated or mouth-operated devices. In these contexts, handless design is often explored to assist people who have limited hand mobility or to enable alternative modes of interaction.

In culture and language, the word can appear in fiction or journalism to convey a lack of manual capability or agency. When describing people, careful and respectful phrasing is advised; medical, disability, and ethical writing typically prefer explicit and person-centered language such as “a person without hands” or “an individual with limb absence,” rather than a general label like “handless.”

Etymology generally traces to hand plus the suffix -less, indicating absence, with usage dating from Middle English and later modern English.