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
Joshua Kloke, The Athletic, 21 Mar. 2025
The push comes two weeks after Bondi handed out binders with Epstein case files to pro-Trump social media influencers at the White House -- files that ultimately contained little new information.
—Katherine Faulders, ABC News, 20 Mar. 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
No surprise, things got testy Referee Héctor Martínez inserted himself into the match regularly, handing out five yellow cards through the first half alone.
—Joshua Kloke, The Athletic, 21 Mar. 2025
The push comes two weeks after Bondi handed out binders with Epstein case files to pro-Trump social media influencers at the White House -- files that ultimately contained little new information.
—Katherine Faulders, ABC News, 20 Mar. 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 31 Mar. 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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