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handbill

handbill

4 5.4
A small printed paper people give out to advertise something
  • noun
  • /ˈhændˌbɪl/
translation icon : panfleto
  • She picked up a handbill from the table that advertised the upcoming concert.
  • handbill and posters

Examples

  • Last week on Diff'rent Strokes, Arnold and his pal Dudley were trying to earn radios for their bicycles by passing out handbills for Mr. Horton's bike store.

  • Printed handbills distributed throughout the state recommended that farmers destroy the plant with salt (Jones and Morse 1903).

    Academic text (1991)
  • We have far too many services to list on a handbill, though.

    Blog text (21)
  • No commercial advertising appeared on the protest side of the handbill.

    Academic text (2008)
  • At the far wall, he saw an open door, and through it a row of chairs; then he noticed a handbill announcing Craige's lecture.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • Handbills passed out by candidates for election indicate the political concerns of the squatter.

    Academic text (1997)
  • We've printed a thousand handbills and 660 tickets for each performance.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • The handbills used two photos of the President in full face and profile, with the caption "Wanted for Treason."

  • Senderby was to have handbills printed, describing the girl and requesting information about her or her murderer.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • In 1920, a candidate for a political campaign in Birmingham, Alabama, circulated a handbill that read: "They have disqualified the Negro, an American citizen, from voting in the white primary."

    Academic text (2004)

Synonyms

flyer
vshandbill
141 2.0

A small printed sheet that gives information or advertises events

is usually handed directly to people rather than sent by other means
flier
vshandbill
  • US
42 2.5

A small printed paper that tells people about an event or service

is used for general announcements handed directly to the public
leaflet
vshandbill
31 2.7

A small folded sheet with information or advertising

is usually a single flat sheet handed directly to people
bill
vshandbill
  • UK
19 2.0

A list of performers at a show or event

is more specific as a small hand delivered notice rather than any printed form
circular
vshandbill
16 4.4

A printed paper that tells many people about a sale or product

is typically given by hand to individuals rather than mailed widely
throwaway
vshandbill
  • UK
1 5.5

A small printed advertisement given to many people

is meant to be handed and often kept as a notice or announcement

How Detailed

booklet
40 1.9
pamphlet
79 3.1
leaflet
31 2.7
flyer
141 2.0
handbill
4 5.4

Surface Forms

handbill singular
handbills plural

Morphology

handbill = hand + bill (transparent) = hand + bill

The meaning is directly derived from the compound 'hand' + 'bill' (a bill distributed by hand).

Etymology

Handbill comes from the two simple parts hand and bill, where bill means 'a short paper notice'. So a handbill is literally a small printed paper you give 'by hand', which is why it means a small notice or advertisement given to people.