clean-handed

[ kleen-han-did ]

adjective

1. free from wrongdoing; guiltless.

Other Words From

• cleanhanded·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of clean-handed¹

First recorded in 1720–30

Example Sentences

"I may be sorry that he is not more clean-handed; but I tell you again, Tom, they never indulged such punctilios in our young days, and I 'm too old to go to school again!"

From Project Gutenberg

These good chiefs in their higher grade dealings preserve the same clean-handed conduct.

From Project Gutenberg

The cowardly, contemptible cad, who would have his desire at the cost of all that was decent and clean-handed!

From Project Gutenberg

Thrusting a clean-handed outsider to the presidency seems like a quaint notion given the utter lock insiders have had on FIFA's operation over the years.

From Time

A healthy crew you are!" he remarked contemptuously; "a nice, clean-handed lot, without grit enough to steal a horse, but plenty of it for robbing a dead boy.

From Project Gutenberg