Handicap

Quick meaning: Handicap is a noun meaning Something that prevents, hampers, or hinders.

Meaning

Something that prevents, hampers, or hinders.

More Meanings

1. (sometimes considered offensive) The disadvantage itself, in particular physical or mental disadvantages of people.
2. (transitive) To encumber with a handicap in any contest.
3. (transitive, figurative, by extension) To place at disadvantage.
4. A race or similar contest in which there is an allowance of time, distance, weight, or other advantage, to equalize the chances of the competitors.
5. (sports) An allowance of a certain amount of time or distance in starting, granted in a race (or other contest of skill) to the competitor possessing disadvantages; or an additional weight or other hindrance imposed upon the one possessing advantages, in order to equalize, as much as possible, the chances of success.
6. (obsolete, uncountable, card games) An old card game, similar to lanterloo.
7. (obsolete, uncountable) Synonym of hand-in-cap (“old English trading game”).

Example Sentences

Age is often a handicap.

The candidate was handicapped by her lack of experience.

A handicap in chess often involves removal of the queen's rook.

The older boy won, even though his opponent had been granted a handicap of five meters.

Word Forms

• handicaps
• handicapping
• handicapped

Synonyms for handicap

Depending on context, synonyms include hand-in-cap, impediment, hindrance, invalid, impairment, deterrent.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include hinder, impediment, hindrance, disable, incapacitate, disablement.

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