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

Example Sentences

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

From MarketWatch • Feb. 13, 2026

Many of these families are victims of the earthquake which badly damaged Mandalay and surrounding areas in March, and are hoping for a handout.

From BBC • Dec. 26, 2025

Veterans looking for a hand, not a handout.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 7, 2025

Whether based on a legal document or a school handout, AI tools can deliver a state-of-the-art podcast at the click of a mouse.

From Barron's • Oct. 13, 2025

In his handout from parents’ night, Mr. Larson says that in his classroom “the students must learn how to learn by themselves, and they must learn to learn from each other, too.”

From "The Landry News" by Andrew Clements