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
Amira El-Fekki, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 June 2025
Nixon was in favor, but the proposal was cut down in Congress as an undeserved handout.
—Augustine Sedgewick, Time, 13 June 2025
Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 25 June 2025
Present at Leadership Blue and handing out blue jolly ranchers to attendees, David Jolly, the former Republican congressman who announced his run for governor of Florida as a Democrat on June 5, said Florida is ready for a change and ready to build a coalition that leads with democratic values.
—Siena Duncan, Miami Herald, 22 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for handout
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Noun
In this handout photo from the U.S. Air Force, an airman guides an F-16 Fighting Falcon during training at Al-Udeid Air Base, Qatar, Jan. 24, 2022.
—Amira El-Fekki, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 June 2025
Nixon was in favor, but the proposal was cut down in Congress as an undeserved handout.
—Augustine Sedgewick, Time, 13 June 2025
Verb
The event will also see festival awards handed out across such categories as best feature film, best performance, best screenwriting, people’s choice, jury’s choice, mare nostrum, lifetime achievement, career achievement and Malta film legend.
—Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 25 June 2025
Present at Leadership Blue and handing out blue jolly ranchers to attendees, David Jolly, the former Republican congressman who announced his run for governor of Florida as a Democrat on June 5, said Florida is ready for a change and ready to build a coalition that leads with democratic values.
—Siena Duncan, Miami Herald, 22 June 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 28 Jun. 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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