handicap
noun · verb
Simple meaning
An allowance of a certain amount of time or distance in starting, granted in a race to the competitor possessing disadvantages.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
handeekapSay the bold part a little louder.
IPA pronunciation (US)
ˈhændikæp
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
noun
sports
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.
Something that prevents, hampers, or hinders.
Advantage given to a competitor to equalize chances of winning
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.
verb
Put at a disadvantage
To estimate betting odds.
transitivefigurativeby extension
To place at disadvantage.
transitive
To encumber with a handicap in any contest.
Word at a Glance
- Difficulty
- B2 · Upper Intermediate (estimated)
- Frequency
- Moderately Common
- Formality
- Technical
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
Aura for this meaning
This meaning: 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.
Used this way, handicap is a reasonably familiar word with a clearly warm, approving pull. This is a sporting use: familiar to anyone who follows the game, and puzzling to anyone who does not.
- Emotional tone
- Positive
- Formality
- Neutral
- Intensity
- Moderate
- How common
- Moderately common
- Connotation
- Successful and accomplished
- Usage feel
- Precise and approving
Where it naturally appears
- Sports
- News/reporting
- Everyday conversation
Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.
More ways to use handicap
- “The extra weight was a handicap for the small racehorse.”
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Common Patterns and Combinations
How this word naturally appears with others.
Word Family
Related forms, grouped by how they connect.
Inflected forms
Grammatical variations of the same word.
People collectively who are crippled or otherwise physically handicapped.
Someone who sets the betting odds based on calculations of the outcome of a contest (especially a horse race).
Compound terms
Established multiword terms.
A person who has some condition that markedly restricts their ability to function physically or mentally or socially.
More about this wordSynonyms, forms, origin
Synonyms
Sense: allowance of a certain amount of time
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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.