handicap

Meaning of handicap

noun
  1. a circumstance that makes progress or success difficult.
    not being able to drive was something of a handicap
  2. a condition that markedly restricts a person's ability to function physically, mentally, or socially.
    he was born with a significant visual handicap
  3. a disadvantage imposed on a superior competitor in sports such as golf, horse racing, and competitive sailing in order to make the chances more equal.
verb
  1. act as an impediment to.
    lack of funding has handicapped the development of research

mid 17th century: from the phrase hand in cap ; originally a pastime in which one person claimed an article belonging to another and offered something in exchange, any difference in value being decided by an umpire. All three deposited forfeit money in a cap; the two opponents showed their agreement or disagreement with the valuation by bringing out their hands either full or empty. If both were the same, the umpire took the forfeit money; if not it went to the person who accepted the valuation. The term handicap race was applied (late 18th century) to a horse race in which an umpire decided the weight to be carried by each horse, the owners showing acceptance or dissent in a similar way: hence in the late 19th century handicap came to mean the extra weight given to the superior horse.

Information about handicap

Hyphenation of handicap

hand-i-cap

  • It consists of 3 syllables and 8 chars.
  • handicap is a word trisyllabic because it has three syllables

handicap synonyms

Meaning disability:

disability, disablement, impairment

Meaning hindrance:

hindrance, hinderance, deterrent, impediment, balk, baulk, check

Meaning disable:

disable, invalid, incapacitate

Meaning hinder:

hinder, hamper

Meaning a thing that blocks one's way or prevents or hinders progress:

obstacle

Meaning a circumstance or obstacle that keeps people or things apart or prevents communication or progress:

barrier

Meaning a barrier or restriction to an action or advance:

bar

Meaning an impediment or burden:

encumbrance

Meaning an unfavourable circumstance or condition that reduces the chances of success or effectiveness:

disadvantage

Meaning a feature that renders something less acceptable; a disadvantage or problem:

drawback

Meaning a thing that is hard to accomplish, deal with, or understand:

difficulty

Meaning a fault or failure to meet a certain standard, typically in a person's character, a plan, or a system:

shortcoming

Meaning a thing that impedes or prevents passage or progress; an obstacle or blockage:

obstruction

Meaning a limiting rule or circumstance; a restriction:

limitation

Meaning a limitation or restriction:

constraint

Meaning a strong garment with long sleeves which can be tied together to confine the arms of a violent prisoner or mental patient:

straitjacket

Meaning a limiting condition or measure, especially a legal one:

restriction

Meaning an obstacle to the normal progress or functioning of something:

block

Meaning a check or restraint on something:

curb

Meaning a very large, chiefly white oceanic bird with long, narrow wings, found mainly in the southern oceans:

albatross

Meaning restrictions or impediments to freedom of action:

trammel

Meaning a cause of pain or harm:

affliction

Meaning a shortcoming, imperfection, or lack:

defect

Meaning delay or prevent (someone or something) by obstructing them; hinder:

impede

Meaning weaken or damage (something, especially a faculty or function):

impair

Meaning cripple (a person or animal) by cutting their hamstrings:

hamstring

Meaning reduce in extent or quantity; impose a restriction on:

curtail

Meaning deprive (someone or something) of freedom of movement or action:

restrict

Meaning block (an opening, path, road, etc.); be or get in the way of:

obstruct

Meaning put a bridle on (a horse):

bridle

Meaning compel or force (someone) to follow a particular course of action:

constrain

Meaning set or serve as a limit to:

limit

Meaning restrict or impede (someone or something) in such a way that free action or movement is difficult:

encumber

Meaning prevent or hinder the progress of:

stymie

Meaning obstruct (someone, especially a candidate for public office) by systematically defaming or vilifying them:

bork

handicap antonyms

Meaning an advantage or profit gained from something:

benefit

Meaning a condition or circumstance that puts one in a favourable or superior position:

advantage

Meaning make it easier or possible for (someone) to do something by offering one's services or resources:

help

Words that rhyme with handicap

nonhandicap, overhandicap, prehandicap, rehandicap, Unicap

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