printout
B2neutral to semi-formal; common in everyday, office, and technical contexts.
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
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
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
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
- Here is the printout of your ticket.
- Can I have a printout of my homework?
- The teacher asked for a printout of the essay draft.
- My printer made a messy printout.
- After analysing the data, we generated a detailed printout for the client.
- Keep a printout of the confirmation email as proof of purchase.
- 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
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).