printout

B2
UK/ˈprɪnt.aʊt/US/ˈprɪnt.aʊt/

neutral to semi-formal; common in everyday, office, and technical contexts.

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Definition

Meaning

a page or set of pages containing text or graphics that has been printed from a computer or other electronic device.

The physical result or product of a printing process from an electronic device, often used for review, distribution, or record-keeping; sometimes used metaphorically to refer to any tangible output from a digital process.

Linguistics

Semantic Notes

A compound noun (print + out). While 'printout' refers to the physical document, the process is 'printing'. Often synonymous with 'hard copy', though 'hard copy' can imply a final, official version, while 'printout' can be a draft.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

Usage is identical in both dialects. Spelling is consistent.

Connotations

No significant difference in connotation.

Frequency

Equally common in both dialects.

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
get a printoutgenerate a printoutproduce a printoutreview the printoutcheck the printout
medium
detailed printoutfinal printoutdraft printoutcomputer printoutlaser printout
weak
obtain a printoutconsult the printoutbring a printoutsingle printout

Grammar

Valency Patterns

N of N (printout of the report)N for N (printout for the meeting)N from N (printout from the database)Adj + N (long printout)

Vocabulary

Synonyms

Strong

hard copy

Neutral

hard copyprinted copypaper copy

Weak

outputlistingreadout (for specific data)

Vocabulary

Antonyms

soft copydigital fileon-screen versionelectronic document

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

  • Dead trees version (humorous/slang for a printout)

Usage

Context Usage

Business

Common in office environments for reports, invoices, and meeting agendas (e.g., 'I'll bring a printout of the quarterly figures').

Academic

Used for drafts of papers, thesis chapters, or data sets for annotation (e.g., 'She marked up the printout with her corrections').

Everyday

Associated with printing tickets, boarding passes, recipes, or directions from home printers.

Technical

Refers to the output from a program, server log, or database query, often continuous fanfold paper.

Examples

By Part of Speech

verb

British English

  • Print out the document
  • We need to print out the tickets for the show.

American English

  • Print out the report
  • I printed out the email for my records.

adverb

British English

  • This report is only available print-out.

American English

  • The data was supplied print-out.

adjective

British English

  • Please use the print-out version for the audit.
  • The print-out quality was poor.

American English

  • Bring a print-out copy to the workshop.
  • The print-out speed of this printer is impressive.

Examples

By CEFR Level

A2
  • Here is the printout of your ticket.
  • Can I have a printout of my homework?
B1
  • The teacher asked for a printout of the essay draft.
  • My printer made a messy printout.
B2
  • After analysing the data, we generated a detailed printout for the client.
  • Keep a printout of the confirmation email as proof of purchase.
C1
  • The commission scrutinised the voluminous printout of the server logs for any discrepancies.
  • He prefers to annotate a printout rather than editing on screen.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think: you PRINT something OUT of the computer onto paper.

Conceptual Metaphor

DIGITAL INFORMATION IS A FLUID (that can be poured 'out' onto paper).

Watch out

Common Pitfalls

Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)

  • Avoid direct calque like 'распечатка' for all contexts – 'printout' is the specific physical object, while 'распечатка' can also mean the process. Use 'hard copy' for formal/official versions.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'printout' as a verb (Incorrect: 'I will printout the document'; Correct: 'I will print out the document' or 'I will get a printout').
  • Confusing 'printout' (noun) with 'print-out' (less common variant, often adjectival).

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
Before the meeting, ensure you have a of the agenda for everyone.
Multiple Choice

Which of the following is the BEST synonym for 'printout' in a formal business report?

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

As a noun, 'printout' (one word or hyphenated as 'print-out') is standard. The verb is always two words: 'print out'.

A printout is created directly from a digital source by a printer. A photocopy is a duplicate made of an existing physical document using a photocopier.

No, by definition, a printout is a physical/tangible output on paper. The digital equivalent would be a 'file', 'soft copy', or 'electronic document'.

While digital workflows are reducing its frequency, the term remains vital in contexts requiring physical records, legal proofs, manual annotation, or where screen access is limited (e.g., construction sites, certain meetings).