handicapped

[ han-dee-kapt ]

adjective

1. Sometimes Offensive. physically or mentally disabled.
2. of or designed for handicapped people:

   handicapped parking.

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

   a handicapped player.

noun

, (used with a plural verb)

1. Often Offensive. disabled persons collectively.

handicapped

/ ˈhændɪˌkæpt /

adjective

1. physically disabled
2. psychol denoting a person whose social behaviour or emotional reactions are in some way impaired
3. (of a competitor) assigned a handicap

Usage

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

Sensitive Note

See cripple.

Other Words From

• mul·ti·hand·i·capped adjective
• non·hand·i·capped adjective
• un·hand·i·capped adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of handicapped¹

First recorded in 1910–15; handicap + -ed ³

Example Sentences

I spent four years in a prison where each handicapped convict was issued an underpaid inmate assistant.

From The Daily Beast

Franco plays Benjy, the mentally handicapped—and eventually, castrated—member of the Compson clan.

From The Daily Beast

He is not lingering in illness, or crippled, or handicapped.

From The Daily Beast

We lost a million individuals in that war…and another million were handicapped.

From The Daily Beast

Saenz set an orange plastic sled at the top of a handicapped access ramp.

From The Daily Beast

My work has been greatly handicapped of late by lack of certain books to which I wanted to refer.

From Project Gutenberg

But poor Lancing was seriously handicapped by the fact that he had a woman for his antagonist.

From Project Gutenberg

Thus, special assistance may be given for starting in trade persons handicapped by their infirmities.

From Project Gutenberg

He was handicapped by the fact that he did not quite dare to put all his back and shoulders into the preliminary shove.

From Project Gutenberg

But as for getting tangible help from the Creator of a body handicapped by nerves like his!

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• disabled