# handbook

/ˈhændˌbʊk/ (US) · /hˈændbʊk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/handbook
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. reference book

noun · CEFR B1

a book that gives you facts or instructions about a subject or how to do something.

For teachers: a reference book providing concise information or instructions on a specific subject, often designed for quick consultation.

- The employee handbook explains the company rules about holidays and sick leave.
- The technical handbook provides comprehensive diagrams and troubleshooting steps for maintaining the industrial cooling system.

Usage: Often used with a modifying noun like 'employee', 'student', or 'technical'.

### 2. illegal betting place

noun · CEFR C2 · American English · Informal

a place where people can make illegal bets on things like horse races.

For teachers: a location or establishment where illicit gambling or bookmaking takes place.

- The police closed down a small handbook operating in the back of the café.
- During the mid-century era, local authorities often turned a blind eye to the handbooks operating in the city's industrial districts.

Teaching tip: This sense is rare in modern English and mostly appears in historical crime fiction or older American contexts.

## Examples

- Please read the employee handbook before your first day.
- The student handbook contains all the rules regarding library use and exam registration.
- The technical handbook provides exhaustive documentation for the machinery, ensuring that operators can troubleshoot common mechanical failures without external assistance.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.