hand·out
ˈhand-ˌau̇t 
1
: a portion of food, clothing, or money given to or as if to a beggar
2
: a folder or circular of information for free distribution
3
: a prepared statement released to the news media
handed out; handing out; hands out
1
a
: to give without charge
b
: to give freely
2
: administer
handed out a severe punishment
Examples of handout in a Sentence
Noun
He sat on the sidewalk asking for a handout.
The family wasn't interested in government handouts.
The handouts had all the major points of his speech outlined on them.
Verb
no system yet in place for handing out room assignments
Recent Examples on the Web
Jenna Deep, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Mar. 2025
Intense controversy followed, with angry protests within the president’s Democratic Party about handouts and welfare for big business.
—Arthur Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2025
Mike Nolan, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2025
At an event in Green Bay on Sunday night, Musk handed out to checks of $1 million to Nicholas Jacobs, the chair of the Wisconsin College Republicans, and graphic designer Ekaterina Diestler.
—Jason D. Greenblatt, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for handout
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Noun
Missionaries also distributed money, medicine and clothes to women in need, simultaneously offering them a handout and a hand up.
—Jenna Deep, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Mar. 2025
Intense controversy followed, with angry protests within the president’s Democratic Party about handouts and welfare for big business.
—Arthur Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2025
Verb
Outside of the Orland Park Civic Center, a polling place on Tuesday, McLaughlin was handing out leaflets supporting Dodge and the Orland Park for All group as well as for his daughter, Bridget Lindbloom, running for a library board seat.
—Mike Nolan, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2025
At an event in Green Bay on Sunday night, Musk handed out to checks of $1 million to Nicholas Jacobs, the chair of the Wisconsin College Republicans, and graphic designer Ekaterina Diestler.
—Jason D. Greenblatt, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for handout
Cite this Entry
“Handout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/handout. Accessed 5 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
handout
noun
hand·out
ˈhan-ˌdau̇t
1
: food, clothing, or money given to a beggar
2
: an information sheet for free distribution
3
: a prepared statement released to the press
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