handicap
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.
handicaps
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pluralof handicap.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
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present tense formof handicap (3rd person singular).present tense
Used to describe things happening now or regularly.
handicapnouna 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.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
John: Narrowly beaten in hot Cheltenham handicaps on each of his past three starts this season, including when pipped in the Ultima Handicap Chase by Johnnywho.
From BBC ● Apr. 9, 2026
As far as handicaps go, if you are sweeping your putts, you’re only hurting yourself and no one else…keep it enjoyable.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 5, 2026
It also created a ranking system, Spindex, with the hopes of making it a ratings scale similar to golf handicaps.
From Barron's ● Mar. 31, 2026
But he couldn’t go much higher with the handicaps he faced at home.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 2, 2026
Finally a speaker came forward and spoke of Chicago’s South Side, its Negro population, their sufferings, and handicaps, linking all that, also, to the world struggle.
From "Black Boy" by Richard Wright
