handicap

Meaning

Noun

1. (countable, uncountable) Something that prevents, hampers, or hinders.
2. (countable, uncountable) 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.
3. (countable, uncountable) The disadvantage itself, in particular physical or mental disadvantages of people.
4. (countable, uncountable) 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. (obsolete, uncountable) An old card game, similar to lanterloo.
6. (obsolete, uncountable) Synonym of hand-in-cap (“old English trading game”).

Verb

1. (transitive) To encumber with a handicap in any contest.
2. (broadly, figuratively, transitive) To place at disadvantage.
3. To estimate betting odds.

Synonyms

disadvantage

hindrance

disability

hinder

impediment

drawback

obstacle

barrier

impairment

disablement

hamper

impede

injury

disable

obstruct

balk

baulk

block

blockage

check

cripple

deterrent

disorder

embarrass

inadvisability

incapacitate

inconvenience

invalid

lameness

trammel

trig

hinderance

downside

defect

trimming

embarrassment

encumber

encumbrance

falling

flaw

grading

deadwood

harm

damage

cumber

hitch

hurdle

hurt

cross

crimp

Translations

handicap

handicap

Behinderung

Handicap

belemmering

Nachteil

deficiência

discapacidad

μειονέκτημα

minorazione

andicappare

disabilità

behindern

désavantage

infirmité

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈhændikæp/

Etymology

From hand-in-cap, in reference to holding the game stakes in a cap.