handout
handout Lexical Profile
handout Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A printed sheet of information, worksheet, or summary distributed free of charge to an audience, class, or group of attendees.
"The professor distributed a two-page handout summarizing the key dates for the midterm exam."
Money, food, clothing, or other resources given free of charge to a person or organization in need, often used with a critical implication of unearned dependency.
"The small business owners emphasized that they were seeking fair low-interest loans rather than a government handout."
An official statement or press release issued to journalists and news media by a government office, corporation, or public figure.
"Reporters quickly noticed that the ministry's press handout omitted several critical details about the budget deficit."
Word Nuance & Usage
The single-word noun 'handout' should be distinguished from the two-word phrasal verb 'hand out' (to distribute). In socio-political contexts, referring to financial aid or welfare as a 'handout' often carries a pejorative connotation implying unearned charity.
• Rhymes for handout
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed in the late 19th century as a nominalization of the phrasal verb 'hand out', originally referring to food or alms passed out to beggars at a door.