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.

---

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

"It's not a handout, we know we have to pay it back," Osborne said.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

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

From MarketWatch • Feb. 13, 2026

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

"Did you give the reporter a prepared handout?"

From "Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison