The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

handout \hand"out\, hand-out \hand"-out\n.
   1. money or an object given in or as in a charitable gesture;
      -- also used of government disbursements to individuals
      for welfare; as, government hand-outs to welfare clients.
      [PJC]

   2. a printed circular distributed gratis, usually for
      political or advertising purposes.
      [PJC]

   3. a printed statement distributed, usually to the news
      media.
      [PJC]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

handout
    n 1: an announcement distributed to members of the press in
         order to supplement or replace an oral presentation [syn:
         handout, press release, release]
    2: giving money or food or clothing to a needy person