dexterity
Skill and grace in physical movement, especially with the hands; in gaming, games that require physical coordination like flicking, stacking, or balancing.
Dexterity games test physical motor skills rather than mental strategy or tactical planning.
Word relationships
- agility: Agility usually refers to whole-body movement and speed, while dexterity is focused on precise hand and finger coordination.
- nimbleness: Nimbleness is a lighter, more poetic term, whereas dexterity is the standard technical term for hand skill.
- clumsiness: Clumsiness is the lack of physical coordination or skill with the hands.
Commonly confused with
- strategy: Strategy is purely mental planning, while dexterity is purely physical execution.
Word family
- dexterous (adjective): Showing or having physical skill, especially with the hands.
- dexterously (adverb): In a dexterous or physically skillful manner.
Collocations
- physical dexterity
- dexterity game
- manual dexterity
Example sentences
- "Men at Work is a delightful dexterity game that challenges players to balance tiny wooden girders and workers without causing a collapse." A review of a physical stacking game.
Memory hook
Think of 'Dexter' from the cartoon Dexter's Laboratory. He is incredibly smart and uses his hands to build complex inventions with great 'dexterity'. Using your hands with skill.
When not to use
Do not use to describe mental agility or quick thinking; use 'cleverness' or 'wit' instead.
Fun facts
- Flicking games like Crokinole are among the oldest dexterity games in the world, dating back to the late 1800s and still played competitively today.
Related words
Explore more words
adept, agility, craftsmanship, maneuver, proficiency, finesse
Also appears in
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