handout

American  

[hand-out] / ˈhændˌaʊt /

noun

• handouts
  plural

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.

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• handouts
  plural

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

See Examples For:

handout handouts

Wile E. Coyote isn’t asking for a handout.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026

After a "low-rate initial production" at Everett, the "North Line will help enable the 737 MAX program to reach 52 airplanes a month," according to a Boeing handout.

From Barron's ● Jul. 10, 2026

The Shuttered Venue Operators Grant, a Covid-era handout pitched as a way to support theaters and music halls, reported $10 billion in improper payments, nearly 70% of all spending in the program.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 11, 2026

Except most of us aren’t in line for this handout.

From MarketWatch ● Feb. 13, 2026

“It’s not a handout if you’re giving back,” Bernadette says, pushing the ketchup toward Maggie.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith

He said the country's businesses had a "parent-child mentality" with the central government and relied too often on handouts.

From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026

The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire, with the population relying on handouts and lacking proper sanitation and shelter.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 27, 2026

Hundreds of Philippine tricycle drivers lined up Tuesday in Manila for cash handouts they hope will provide temporary relief from a war-driven surge in fuel prices that has left the country scrambling for short-term answers.

From Barron's ● Mar. 17, 2026

A mix of government pensions, food handouts and subsidized housing provides an ever-more tattered safety net.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 30, 2026

One day the teacher had brought the wrong handouts to class.

From "Red Scarf Girl: A Memoir of the Cultural Revolution" by Ji-li Jiang