handout

American  

[hand-out] / ˈhændˌaʊt /

noun

1. a portion of food or the like given to a needy person, as a beggar.

2. press release.

3. any printed, typed, mimeographed, or photocopied copy of information, as a speech, policy statement, or fact sheet given to reporters, attendees at a meeting, or the like.

4. anything given away for nothing, as a free sample of a product by an advertiser.

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Etymology

Origin of handout

First recorded in 1880–85 handout for def. 1 and in 1905–10 handout for def. 2; noun use of verb phrase hand out

Explanation

A handout is something that's given to a person in need. A useful handout for someone who doesn't have a home might be food, money, or clothing. Handouts are anything that a person, government, charity, or other organization freely donates to needy people. While the word originated in the 1880s and gained popularity during the Great Depression among so-called "hobos," people who had to live entirely on the charity of others, handout has taken on a negative connotation in modern times. It's more often used to criticize the government or tax rates than to mean "a generous, thoughtful donation."

Example Sentences

Handout photos showed just over a dozen men carrying away boxes from an unspecified location.

From BBC • May 27, 2025

In the caption of the two-minute-long video, Getty Images has placed a disclaimer that states, "This Handout clip was provided by a third-party organization and may not adhere to Getty Images' editorial policy."

From Salon • Apr. 2, 2024

California has been taking great mouthfuls of the world for most of the last two centuries, and yet claiming the innocence of eating a 19¢ burger and fries at Hamburger Handout, Culver City, 1958.

From Salon • Oct. 17, 2020

Photograph: Handout It’s also fairly accurate with what’s happening right now, not just in fashion but in popular culture and tech.

From The Guardian • Dec. 3, 2015

Handout photos and videos were intentionally blurred by The Washington Post to protect the identity of the people in this article out of concern for their safety.

From Washington Post