Definitions for HANDICAP
ˈhæn diˌkæphand·i·cap

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. disability, disablement, handicap, impairmentnoun

   the condition of being unable to perform as a consequence of physical or mental unfitness

   "reading disability"; "hearing impairment"

2. handicapnoun

   advantage given to a competitor to equalize chances of winning

3. hindrance, hinderance, deterrent, impediment, balk, baulk, check, handicapverb

   something immaterial that interferes with or delays action or progress

4. disable, invalid, incapacitate, handicapverb

   injure permanently

   "He was disabled in a car accident"

5. handicapverb

   attempt to forecast the winner (especially in a horse race) and assign odds for or against a contestant

6. handicap, hinder, hamperverb

   put at a disadvantage

   "The brace I have to wear is hindering my movements"

GCIDERate this definition:3.0 / 1 vote

1. handicapnoun

   a physical or mental disability of the body which makes normal human activities more difficult or impossible; as, his deformed leg was a major handicap in walking.

2. handicapnoun

   any disadvantage that makes an activity more difficult or impossible; as, insufficient capital was a big handicap in competing against Microsoft.

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. handicapnoun

   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.

2. handicapnoun

   The disadvantage itself, in particular physical or mental disadvantages of people.

3. handicapnoun

   A race, for horses or men, or any contest of agility, strength, or skill, in which there is an allowance of time, distance, weight, or other advantage, to equalize the chances of the competitors.

4. handicapnoun

   An old game at cards. - Pepys

5. handicapverb

   To encumber with a handicap in any contest.

6. handicapverb

   To place at disadvantage.

   The candidate was heavily handicapped.

7. handicapverb

   To estimate betting odds.

   Grandpa Andy would buy the racing form the day ahead of time so he could handicap the race before he even arrived at the track.

8. Etymology: From hand in cap, in reference to holding the game stakes in a cap.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Handicapnoun

   an allowance of a certain amount of time or distance in starting, granted in a race to the competitor possessing inferior advantages; or an additional weight or other hindrance imposed upon the one possessing superior advantages, in order to equalize, as much as possible, the chances of success; as, the handicap was five seconds, or ten pounds, and the like

2. Handicapnoun

   a race, for horses or men, or any contest of agility, strength, or skill, in which there is an allowance of time, distance, weight, or other advantage, to equalize the chances of the competitors

3. Handicapnoun

   an old game at cards

4. Handicapverb

   to encumber with a handicap in any contest; hence, in general, to place at disadvantage; as, the candidate was heavily handicapped

5. Etymology: [From hand in cap; -- perh. in reference to an old mode of settling a bargain by taking pieces of money from a cap.]

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Handicap

   hand′i-kap, v.t. to impose special disadvantages or impediments upon in order to offset advantages, and make a better contest—in a horse-race the superior horse carries a heavier weight, while foot-runners are placed at different distances, or start at different times: (fig.) to place at a disadvantage by some burden or disability.—n. any contest so adjusted, or the condition imposed.—n. Hand′icapper, one who handicaps. [Hand in the cap, from the usage in an ancient kind of sport and method of settling a bargain by arbitration.]

Matched Categories

1. • Advantage
   • Bias

British National Corpus

1. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'HANDICAP' in Nouns Frequency: #2340

How to pronounce HANDICAP?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say HANDICAP in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of HANDICAP in Chaldean Numerology is: 1

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of HANDICAP in Pythagorean Numerology is: 2

Examples of HANDICAP in a Sentence

1. David Anderson:

   The external support for defense spending in Africa is, in my view, a major foreign policy handicap, african states will truly own their defense and security when they pay for it themselves.

2. Sharra Vostral:

   'Medical Considerations of WASPS' determined that menstruation was 'not a handicap to flying and there was no relationship to accidents,' some of the reports from the physician came back, tongue-in-cheek, saying this was the most interesting group of women he'd ever encountered because they weren't having their periods.

3. Napoleon Bonaparte:

   In politics stupidity is not a handicap.

4. Dave Lafferty:

   Trump has been light on policy substance so it’s very difficult for the markets to handicap.

5. David Davis:

   Be in no doubt: under the government's proposal our fingers would still be caught in this mangle and the EU would use it ruthlessly to punish us for leaving and handicap our future competitiveness.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=HANDICAP
2. ^ GCIDE
   https://gcide.gnu.org.ua/?q=HANDICAP
3. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Handicap
4. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/HANDICAP
5. ^ Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37683/37683-h/37683-h.htm#:~:text=HANDICAP