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.

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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

By ensuring that money is tied to real effort and sacrifice, rather than given as a casual gift, children learn the direct connection between hard work and capital, transforming a handout into a meaningful reward.

From MarketWatch • May 29, 2026

"I wasn't asking to live there. I wasn't asking for anything from the Australian government, I wasn't looking for a handout – I just wanted to experience Australia for the set term of the visa."

From BBC • Mar. 20, 2026

The introduction of a $7 monthly handout drew only derision.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 17, 2026

Calderon said the program wasn’t “a handout; it’s basically a mitigation payment” from the federal government, which owns and manages about 45% of California’s land.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 9, 2025

Some days more than six hundred families stood in line for a handout of rice, oatmeal, potatoes, flour, and coffee, along with a little meat if there was any to be had.

From "A Few Red Drops: The Chicago Race Riot of 1919" by Claire Hartfield