ambidextrous
adjective
John P. Wiley, Jr.Lianne ElliottPopular ComputingT. S. EliotG. H. Genzmer
Did you know?
Latin dexter originally meant "related to or situated on the right side," but since most people do things better with the right hand, dexter developed the sense of "skillful" (as demonstrated by our word dexterous). In 1646, English physician and author Sir Thomas Browne combined dexter with the Latin prefix ambi- (meaning "both") to form ambidextrous: "Some are ... ambidextrous or right-handed on both sides," he wrote. The word can also describe the kind of mental agility demonstrated by one with multiple diverse talents, such as the ambidextrous leader who successfully works with a diverse team to meet goals.
Examples of ambidextrous in a Sentence
PC Magazine, 15 Oct. 2025
As 2026 approaches, the leaders who are pulling ahead are those embracing an ambidextrous organizational model.
—Cheryl Robinson, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025
Left-handed gamers all too often have limited options in gaming mice, but Corsair's M75 has plenty of tricks up its ambidextrous sleeves.
—Henri Robbins, Wired News, 18 Aug. 2025
His game-winner against the Rams on Sunday in the Round of 32 showed off something that has been apparent all season: The freshman big man is nearly ambidextrous and often operates as a left-handed player in the paint.
—John Hollinger, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ambidextrous
Cite this Entry
“Ambidextrous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ambidextrous. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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ambidextrous
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ambidextrous
adjective
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