handicapped

[ han-dee-kapt ]

/ ˈhæn diˌkæpt /

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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 Usually the handicapped .(used with a plural verb)

Often Offensive. disabled persons collectively.

QUIZ

SHALL WE PLAY A "SHALL" VS. "SHOULD" CHALLENGE?

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Question 1 of 6

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shall

should

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Origin of handicapped

First recorded in 1910–15; handicap + -ed³

usage note for handicapped

See cripple.

OTHER WORDS FROM handicapped

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

Words nearby handicapped

handheld computer, handhold, handholding, hand horn, handicap, handicapped, handicapper, handicap register, handicraft, handicraftsman, Handies Peak

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use handicapped in a sentence

I spent four years in a prison where each handicapped convict was issued an underpaid inmate assistant.
A Million Ways to Die in Prison|Daniel Genis|December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Franco plays Benjy, the mentally handicapped—and eventually, castrated—member of the Compson clan.
James Franco and Scott Haze on 'The Sound and the Fury' and Gawker 'Outing' Them As A 'Couple'|Marlow Stern|September 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He is not lingering in illness, or crippled, or handicapped.
The Death of a Rodeo Cowboy|Peter Richmond|May 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We lost a million individuals in that war…and another million were handicapped.
Afghanistan: Building a Vision Of Hope and Change|Lloyd Grove|April 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Saenz set an orange plastic sled at the top of a handicapped access ramp.
Philip Seymour Hoffman and the Mourner’s Playground|Michael Daly|February 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
My work has been greatly handicapped of late by lack of certain books to which I wanted to refer.
First Plays|A. A. Milne
But poor Lancing was seriously handicapped by the fact that he had a woman for his antagonist.
The Weight of the Crown|Fred M. White
Thus, special assistance may be given for starting in trade persons handicapped by their infirmities.
English Poor Law Policy|Sidney Webb
He was handicapped by the fact that he did not quite dare to put all his back and shoulders into the preliminary shove.
The Boy Grew Older|Heywood Broun
But as for getting tangible help from the Creator of a body handicapped by nerves like his!
Red Pepper Burns|Grace S. Richmond

British Dictionary definitions for handicapped

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

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

handicapped

Origin of handicapped

usage note for handicapped

OTHER WORDS FROM handicapped

Words nearby handicapped

Words related to handicapped

How to use handicapped in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for handicapped

usage for handicapped