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Definition of handbill

handbill

/ˈhændˌbɪl/
hand · bill
Plural:handbills
•
Past Simple:handbilled
•
Past Participle:handbilled
•
Present Participle:handbilling
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handbill Lexical Profile

handbill Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A small printed sheet or notice distributed by hand to advertise an event, product, or political cause.

Example

"Volunteers stood outside the subway station passing out handbills for the upcoming community theater performance."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for handbill

• verb

1

To distribute printed notices or flyers by hand in a public area or to a group of people.

Example

"Union organizers spent the morning handbilling outside the factory gates to inform workers about the meeting."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for handbill

• Nearby Words

handbasin
handbasket
handbell
handbill
handblown
handbook
handbrake

Word Origin & Etymology

First recorded in the mid-18th century, formed as a compound of 'hand' and 'bill' (in the sense of a public notice or advertisement, from Medieval Latin 'billa', meaning a sealed document).

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Handbill. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/handbill
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