handicapped

[ han-dee-kapt ]

/ ˈhæn diˌkæpt /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR handicapped ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

Sometimes Offensive. physically or mentally disabled.

of or designed for handicapped people: handicapped parking.

Sports. (of a competitor) marked by, being under, or having a handicap: a handicapped player.

noun

(used with a plural verb) Sometimes Offensive. handicapped persons collectively (usually preceded by the): increased job opportunities for the handicapped.

Words nearby handicapped

handheld computer, handhold, handholding, handicap, handicap register, handicapped, handicapper, handicraft, handicraftsman, handies peak, handily

Origin of handicapped

First recorded in 1910–15; handicap + -ed³

OTHER WORDS FROM handicapped

mul·ti·hand·i·capped, adjectivenon·hand·i·capped, adjectiveun·hand·i·capped, adjective

usage note for handicapped

See cripple.

Definition for handicapped (2 of 2)

handicap

[ han-dee-kap ]

/ ˈhæn diˌkæp /

noun

a race or other contest in which certain disadvantages or advantages of weight, distance, time, etc., are placed upon competitors to equalize their chances of winning.

the disadvantage or advantage itself.

any disadvantage that makes success more difficult: The main handicap of our business is lack of capital.

Sometimes Offensive. a physical or mental disability making participation in certain of the usual activities of daily living more difficult.

verb (used with object), hand·i·capped, hand·i·cap·ping.

to place at a disadvantage; disable or burden: He was handicapped by his injured ankle.

to subject to a disadvantageous handicap, as a competitor of recognized superiority.

to assign handicaps to (competitors).

Sports.

to attempt to predict the winner of (a contest, especially a horse race), as by comparing past performances of the contestants.
to assign odds for or against (any particular contestant) to win a contest or series of contests: He handicapped the Yankees at 2-to-1 to take the series from the Cardinals.

Origin of handicap

1640–50; 1870–75 for def 8; orig. hand i' cap hand in cap, referring to a drawing before a horse race

SYNONYMS FOR handicap

5 hinder, impede, cripple, incapacitate.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR handicap ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR handicap

5 aid, assist, help.

SEE ANTONYMS FOR handicap ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM handicap

non·hand·i·cap, nouno·ver·hand·i·cap, verb (used with object), o·ver·hand·i·capped, o·ver·hand·i·cap·ping.pre·hand·i·cap, noun, verb (used with object), pre·hand·i·capped, pre·hand·i·cap·ping.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Examples from the Web for handicapped

You are terribly 'handicapped' as the racing people call it.
Perlycross|R. D. Blackmore

British Dictionary definitions for handicapped (1 of 2)

handicapped

/ (ˈhændɪˌkæpt) /

adjective

physically disabled

psychol denoting a person whose social behaviour or emotional reactions are in some way impaired

(of a competitor) assigned a handicap

usage for handicapped

Nowadays the use of the word handicapped to describe people with disabilities is generally considered inappropriate. It is preferable to refer to someone as having a disability and to talk about people with disabilities

British Dictionary definitions for handicapped (2 of 2)

handicap

/ (ˈhændɪˌkæp) /

noun

something that hampers or hinders

a contest, esp a race, in which competitors are given advantages or disadvantages of weight, distance, time, etc, in an attempt to equalize their chances of winning
the advantage or disadvantage prescribed

golf the number of strokes by which a player's averaged score exceeds the standard scratch score for the particular course: used as the basis for handicapping in competitive play

any physical disability or disadvantage resulting from physical, mental, or social impairment or abnormality

verb -caps, -capping or -capped (tr)

to be a hindrance or disadvantage to

to assign a handicap or handicaps to

to organize (a contest) by handicapping

US and Canadian

to attempt to forecast the winner of (a contest, esp a horse race)
to assign odds for or against (a contestant)

Word Origin for handicap

C17: probably from hand in cap, a lottery game in which players drew forfeits from a cap or deposited money in it

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for handicapped

handicap

[ hăn′dē-kăp′ ]

n.

A physical, mental, or emotional condition that interferes with one's normal functioning.

handicapped

adjective

noun

Words related to handicapped

Words nearby handicapped

Origin of handicapped

OTHER WORDS FROM handicapped

usage note for handicapped

Definition for handicapped (2 of 2)

noun

verb (used with object), hand·i·capped, hand·i·cap·ping.

Origin of handicap

SYNONYMS FOR handicap

ANTONYMS FOR handicap

OTHER WORDS FROM handicap

Examples from the Web for handicapped

British Dictionary definitions for handicapped (1 of 2)

adjective

usage for handicapped

British Dictionary definitions for handicapped (2 of 2)

noun

verb -caps, -capping or -capped (tr)

Word Origin for handicap

Medical definitions for handicapped

n.