handicap
Handicap (noun) means a physical or mental condition that limits a person's abilities. Example: “The building was redesigned to be accessible to people with a handicap.”
How to Use Handicap
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA disadvantage or limitation, or (in sport) an adjustment made to level the playing field.
The word can sound outdated or even offensive when used for a person's disability — "disability" or "impairment" is now the more neutral, preferred term in everyday and official use.
Word Forms
handicapped past tense, handicaps plural, handicaps singular
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The building was redesigned to be accessible to people with a _____.
Etymology
From the old phrase "hand in cap," a forfeit game where players held stake money in a cap — later borrowed for sports where competitors are given adjusted odds.
Related Words
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “handicap” mean?
The word “handicap” means a physical or mental condition that limits a person's abilities. In plain terms, a disadvantage or limitation, or (in sport) an adjustment made to level the playing field.
How do you pronounce “handicap”?
“Handicap” is pronounced HAN-dee-kap (/ˈhændikæp/ in IPA).
How do you use “handicap” in a sentence?
Here is “handicap” used in a sentence: “The building was redesigned to be accessible to people with a handicap.”
What part of speech is “handicap”?
Depending on how it is used, “handicap” can be a noun and a verb.
Is “handicap” a common word?
“Handicap” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “handicap” have?
“Handicap” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a physical or mental condition that limits a person's abilities.
What is the difference between a handicap and a disability?
"Disability" is the more neutral, standard term today for a physical or mental condition that limits a person's abilities, while "handicap" carries an older, now often considered outdated or insensitive tone when applied to people. In sports and games, however, "handicap" remains the standard, non-offensive term for an adjustment given to weaker competitors.
How is a golf handicap calculated?
A golf handicap is a numerical adjustment representing a player's skill level, used to level the playing field between competitors of different abilities. It works the same way as the general sporting sense of handicap: extra strokes are given to weaker players so a contest is more evenly matched.
Is it acceptable to use handicap to describe a person?
Many style guides and disability advocates now prefer "person with a disability" over "handicapped person," since handicap in that sense is considered dated. The word remains perfectly acceptable in its sporting sense and in its general sense of a disadvantage, such as "a handicap to success."
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