hand·out
ˈhand-ˌau̇t 
1
sometimes disapproving
: food, clothing, or money given to someone who is poor
also
: money given to a person or organization by the government
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
Lesley Stahl, CBS News, 16 Feb. 2026
My approach to governing is built on a lifetime of fighting for working families, public education, affordable health care, and real economic opportunity, not corporate handouts.
—Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
Arkansas Online, 21 Feb. 2026
The ceremony, held in Berlin, saw the 2026 competition jury, headed by German director Wim Wenders, hand out the festival’s Golden and Silver Bears against a backdrop of sustained controversy that has dogged this year’s Berlinale from its opening day.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 21 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for handout
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Noun
Family handouts The three young Jewish women were all newly pregnant in 1944 when they were sent to the notorious death camp Auschwitz.
—Lesley Stahl, CBS News, 16 Feb. 2026
My approach to governing is built on a lifetime of fighting for working families, public education, affordable health care, and real economic opportunity, not corporate handouts.
—Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
Verb
The department has been targeting states that handed out commercial driver's licenses to immigrants who shouldn't have qualified for them ever since a fatal crash in August.
—Arkansas Online, 21 Feb. 2026
The ceremony, held in Berlin, saw the 2026 competition jury, headed by German director Wim Wenders, hand out the festival’s Golden and Silver Bears against a backdrop of sustained controversy that has dogged this year’s Berlinale from its opening day.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 21 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for handout
Cite this Entry
“Handout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/handout. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.
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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