handicap

¹hand·i·cap

noun \ˈhan-di-ˌkap, -dē-\

Definition of HANDICAP

1

a : a race or contest in which an artificial advantage is given or disadvantage imposed on a contestant to equalize chances of winning b : an advantage given or disadvantage imposed usually in the form of points, strokes, weight to be carried, or distance from the target or goal

2

a : a disadvantage that makes achievement unusually difficult b sometimes offensive : a physical disability

Examples of HANDICAP

1. His shyness was a handicap in his job.
2. She's been practicing a lot and her handicap has gone down from 18 to 12.

Origin of HANDICAP

obsolete English handicap, a game in which forfeit money was held in a cap, from hand in cap

First Known Use: 1754

Related to HANDICAP

Synonyms: debit, disbenefit, downside, drawback, disadvantage, incommodity, liability, minus, negative, strike

Antonyms: advantage, asset, edge, plus

Related Words: albatross, millstone, stranglehold; disability, impairment; failing, shortcoming; bar, catch, check, clog, crimp, embarrassment, hindrance, hitch, hurdle, impediment, interference, let, manacle, obstacle, obstruction, rub, shackle, stop, trammel

Near Antonyms: vantage; head start, jump, lead, margin, start; ascendancy (also ascendency), better, command, control, drop, mastery, predominance, superiority, supremacy, transcendence, upper hand; prerogative, privilege; break, opportunity; aid, assistance, help

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Rhymes with HANDICAP

afterclap, baseball cap, beat the rap, blasting cap, body wrap, booby trap, contour map, cradle cap, gangsta rap, giddyap, gimme cap, gingersnap, inky cap, medigap, on the map, overlap, photomap, rattletrap, relief map, service cap, shoulder strap, spinal tap, stocking cap, thinking cap, thunderclap, Tonle Sap, tourist trap, water gap, weather map, wentletrap