handicap

Language: en

🇬🇧 /ˈhændɪˌkæp/ 🇺🇸 /ˈhændiːˌkæp/

📖 Definitions

  1. noun
    A condition that markedly restricts a person's ability to function physically, mentally, or socially; a disability.; A disadvantage or obstacle that makes progress or success more difficult.; In sports, a disadvantage imposed on a superior competitor or an advantage given to an inferior one to equalize chances of winning.; A number assigned to a golfer indicating the number of strokes over par that the golfer is expected to shoot.; A race or contest in which competitors are given advantages or disadvantages according to their ability to equalize chances.; In betting, a point spread or odds adjustment used to make a contest more even for wagering purposes.
  2. verb
    To impose a disadvantage on; to hinder or impede.; To assign a handicap to a competitor in a race or contest.; To attempt to predict the outcome of a race or contest, especially in horse racing.

🔗 Details

Word forms

countable Plural: handicaps 3rd sing.: handicaps Past: handicapped Past part.: handicapped Pres part.: handicapping

Collocations

overcome a handicapphysical handicapmental handicaphandicap racegive someone a handicapsuffer from a handicap

Derivatives

handicappedhandicapperhandicapping

Synonyms

disabilitydisadvantageimpedimenthindranceobstacledrawback

Antonyms

advantagebenefitasset

Commonly confused

disability
EN: 'Disability' is the preferred modern term for a physical or mental condition; 'handicap' is increasingly considered outdated or offensive in that context.
obstacle
EN: 'Obstacle' refers to an external barrier to progress; 'handicap' implies an inherent or imposed disadvantage.

Spelling tips

EN: The base form has a single 'p', but it doubles when adding suffixes: 'handicapped', 'handicapping'. Writing 'handicaped' or 'handicaping' is a common error.

💬 Examples

  1. He overcame his physical handicap to become a successful athlete.

  2. Lack of education is a serious handicap in the job market.

  3. The golf tournament used a handicap system so players of different skill levels could compete fairly.

  4. She has a handicap of five, which means she typically shoots five over par.

  5. The horse race was run as a handicap, with heavier weights assigned to the faster horses.

  6. The bookmaker set the handicap at three points in favor of the underdog.

  7. The injury handicapped the team's chances of winning the championship.

  8. The committee handicapped the horses based on their previous performance.

  9. He spent hours handicapping the races before placing his bets.