giveaway

[ giv-uh-wey ]

noun

1. an act or instance of giving something away.
2. something that is given away, especially as a gift or premium:

   A pocket calculator was offered as a giveaway with every new subscription to the magazine.

3. a radio or television program on which prizes are given away to contestants in a question-and-answer game.
4. a tax law or other legislation designed to benefit one segment of the population, one area or state, etc.:

   a giveaway that benefited only the very rich.

5. an unscrupulous deal, especially one that benefits some while defrauding others.
6. Sports. any careless loss of possession of a ball, puck, etc., or other offensive lapse that leads to a score by the opponent.

adjective

1. constituting a giveaway:

   a giveaway newspaper.

Word History and Origins

Origin of giveaway¹

1870–75, Americanism; noun use of verb phrase give away

Example Sentences

She mentioned the food giveaways that De León ramped up across District 14 after the audio leak.

From Los Angeles Times

He also spent the last weeks before election day running a get-out-the-vote effort in the battleground states, which included a daily giveaway of $1m to voters in those states.

From BBC

But when the world's richest man unveiled the giveaway last month, many believed it was a random drawing for registered voters who signed a petition supporting the First and Second Amendments of the US Constitution.

From BBC

But in a hearing on Monday, Musk’s lawyer Chris Gober tried to defend the giveaway’s legality, revealing that recipients are not chosen at random.

From Salon

Biden and Congress did help fuel inflation by spending too much on giveaway incentives and infrastructure.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• allowance
• award
• benefit
• bonus
• contribution
• donation
• endowment
• favor
• grant
• legacy
• offering
• premium
• present
• relief
• reward
• souvenir
• subsidy
• tip
• tribute