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1. Dictionary

   handicap

   /ˈhandɪkap/

   noun

   • 1. a circumstance that makes progress or success difficult: "not being able to drive was something of a handicap" Similar impedimenthindranceobstaclebarrierbarencumbrancedisadvantagedrawbackstumbling blockdifficultyshortcomingobstructionlimitationconstraintstraitjacketrestrictioncheckblockcurbball and chainalbatrossmillstone round someone's neckliterary:trammelOpposite benefitadvantage
   • 2. a condition that markedly restricts a person's ability to function physically, mentally, or socially: dated, offensive "he was born with a significant visual handicap" Similar disabilityafflictionoffensive:physical abnormalitymental abnormalitydefectimpairment
   • 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.
   • ▪ a race or contest in which a handicap is imposed: "the National Hunt Handicap Chase"
   • ▪ the extra weight allocated to be carried in a race by a racehorse on the basis of its previous form to make its chances of winning the same as those of the other horses.
   • ▪ the number of strokes by which a golfer normally exceeds par for a course (used as a method of enabling players of unequal ability to compete with each other): "he plays off a handicap of 10"

   verb

   • 1. act as an impediment to: "lack of funding has handicapped the development of research"
   • ▪ place (someone) at a disadvantage: "her lack of formal training handicapped her"

   Word Origin 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.

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2. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishHANDICAP | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

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   Handicap can mean an illness, injury, or condition that makes it difficult for someone to do some things, or a disadvantage given to a competitor in a game or sports event. Learn more about the word, its synonyms, and its pronunciation.

3. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › handicapHandicap Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › handicap

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   The meaning of HANDICAP is a race or contest in which an artificial advantage is given or disadvantage imposed on a contestant to equalize chances of winning. How to use handicap in a sentence.

4. www.dictionary.com › browse › handicapHANDICAP Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › handicap

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   Handicap can mean a disadvantage or advantage in a contest, a physical or mental disability, or a prediction of the winner of a race. Learn more about the word history, usage, and related terms of handicap.

5. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › handicapHandicap - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms - Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › handicap

   A mental or physical disadvantage, such as blindness or a missing leg, is a handicap: something that disables you in some way. Handicaps can also be imposed artificially to even out the odds in sporting events.

6. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › englishhandicap noun - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › english

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   Learn the meaning, pronunciation and usage of the word handicap, which can refer to a permanent condition, a disadvantage or a sporting term. Find out why handicap is usually considered offensive and what are the preferred alternatives.

7. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › englishHANDICAP definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

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   Learn the various meanings and uses of the word handicap, from a physical or mental disability to a disadvantage or advantage in a contest. Find synonyms, pronunciation, examples and translations of handicap in different languages.

8. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-englishMeaning of handicap – Learner’s Dictionary - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-english

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   Handicap can mean a permanent problem with your mind or body, or a disadvantage that makes something more difficult. Learn more about the word, its synonyms and translations in different languages.

9. www.dictionary.com › browse › handicapHANDICAP Definition & Usage Examples | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › handicap

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   to place at a disadvantage; disable or burden: He was handicapped by his injured ankle. to subject to a disadvantageous handicap, as a competitor of recognized superiority. to assign handicaps to (competitors).

10. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › handicap_1handicap noun - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage...

    www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › handicap_1

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    Learn the meaning, pronunciation and examples of handicap as a noun in American English. Find out the difference between handicap and disability, and how to use handicap in sports and golf.

11. www.thefreedictionary.com › handicapHandicap - definition of handicap by The Free Dictionary

    www.thefreedictionary.com › handicap

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    Handicap can mean a physical or mental disability, a disadvantage or inconvenience, or a contest with advantages or penalties. Learn the origin, synonyms, and examples of handicap in sports, games, and other contexts.