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

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

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

Takaichi, who took power in October, has unveiled a range of new relief measures, such as energy subsidies and a cash handout of 20,000 yen per child, equivalent to $128.73.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 8, 2025

Some members of the Unity Movement at first felt that we were accepting a handout from the government, which compromised our integrity.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela