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

See Examples For:

handout handouts

The government's budget includes a cash handout of NT$10,000 for every resident, which Lai described as an economic "dividend" from AI-driven growth to be shared by the public.

From Barron's ● Aug. 17, 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

They were queuing to register at a centre for the displaced, offered a small handout of cash, food and toiletries by volunteers.

From BBC ● Jan. 31, 2026

People stood there, shuffling their feet, reading the handout, going through their bags.

From "The Dead and the Gone" by Susan Beth Pfeffer

You are the one who stuck to her original career plan, built her own future independently, did not give up a six-figure job to follow your heart or ask family members for handouts or loans.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 10, 2026

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

I know firsthand that working people and farmers don’t want handouts or pity.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 27, 2026

Seoul has offered cash handouts, childcare support and infertility treatment aid to address the issue.

From Barron's ● Feb. 25, 2026

Then when this crazy lynx started following me around the woods looking for handouts, it became his official nickname for me.

From "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins