Meaning & use
panhandlers
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“panhandlers” is a form of “panhandler”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meaning
nounpluralAmericaninformal
People who ask strangers for money in public places such as streets or outside shops.
Grammar: Plural of panhandler: one panhandler, several panhandlers.
Patterns
- panhandlers on the street
- panhandlers outside something
Several panhandlers stood near the subway entrance during the morning rush.
The city passed a rule limiting panhandlers near restaurant patios.
Some shoppers give coins to panhandlers, while others offer to buy food.
Word forms
| singular | panhandler |
|---|
Common combinations
- aggressive panhandlers
- Local shops complained about aggressive panhandlers.
- panhandlers on the street
- There were fewer panhandlers on the street after the new shelter opened.
- ban panhandlers
- The council voted not to ban panhandlers.
- give to panhandlers
- She prefers to give to panhandlers in the form of food.
- downtown panhandlers
- Downtown panhandlers gather near the stadium on game nights.
Synonyms and how they differ
- beggars
- Beggars is the broader, older word, used in all varieties of English, while panhandlers is mostly American and tied to street begging.
- vagrants
- Vagrants stresses homelessness and wandering and is often seen as harsh or legalistic.
- buskers
- Buskers perform for money, so unlike panhandlers they offer music or entertainment in return.
Word family
- panhandler noun
- one person who begs in public
- panhandle verb
- to beg for money in public
- panhandling noun
- the activity of begging in public
Commonly confused: panhandlers or panhandle?
panhandlers vs panhandle
Besides the verb, a panhandle is a narrow strip of land that sticks out from a larger area, like the handle of a pan.
Practice
Several ___ were asking passersby for spare change outside the station.
Choose one answer.
Panhandlers are people who ask strangers for money. Commuters travel to work, vendors sell goods, and bartenders serve drinks.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “panhandlers”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.