Meaning & Definition of Offhand in English

1. With little or no preparation or forethought

• "His ad-lib comments showed poor judgment"

• "An extemporaneous piano recital"

• "An extemporary lecture"

• "An extempore skit"

• "An impromptu speech"

• "Offhand excuses"

• "Trying to sound offhanded and reassuring"

• "An off-the-cuff toast"

• "A few unrehearsed comments"

2. Casually thoughtless or inconsiderate

• "An offhand manner"

• "She treated most men with offhand contempt"

1. Without previous thought or preparation

• "Couldn't give the figures offhand"

• "We decided offhand to go to canada"

• "She had made these remarks offhandedly"

2. In a casually inconsiderate manner

• "Replied offhand, his mind a million miles away"

• "She threw him over offhandedly without even a dear-john letter"