handshaker

[ hand-shey-ker ]

noun

1. a person who is or is required to be overtly or ostentatiously friendly:

   Politicians are often incurable handshakers.

Word History and Origins

Origin of handshaker¹

First recorded in 1900–05; handshake + -er ¹

Example Sentences

“Always health. Health and life. Living is number one . . . I retweeted somebody. I dunno . . . I was never a big handshaker . . . We spoke to a lot of very, very smart people . . . Papa John’s, Wendy’s, Waffle House, Starbucks . . . That’s a mosquito. I don’t like mosquitoes. I don’t like mosquitoes at all . . . There are a lot of great things happening . . . No, I’m not a fan of Mitt Romney . . . You’re never going to treat me fairly.”

From Washington Post

But as an avid handshaker and something of an expert on the subject, I have to second the good doctor’s prescription.

From Washington Post

“I’ve always been a handshaker,” he said.

From Washington Times

She is an assertive handshaker, backslapper, high-fiver and hugger, which she used to great effect in winning two terms as the county’s top prosecutor and later to become the first black woman to be elected county executive.

From Washington Post

A good handshaker will betray you just as quickly as a lousy handshaker.

From Golf Digest

Related Words

• congressperson
• lawmaker
• leader
• legislator
• member of Congress
• officeholder
• president
• representative
• senator