A paddle is a handheld tool with an elongated handle and a flat, widened distal end, used as a lever to apply force onto the bladed end. It most commonly describes a completely handheld tool used to propel a human-powered watercraft by pushing water in a direction opposite to the direction of travel. It is different to an oar in that the latter is attached to the watercraft via a fulcrum.

Human-powered watercraft are watercraft propelled only by human power, instead of being propelled by wind power or an engine.