handicapped
/ˈhandɪkapt
/adjective dated or offensive
(Of a person) having a condition that markedly restricts their ability to function physically, mentally, or socially: a special school for handicapped children his third child was born severely handicapped...
- Being developmentally handicapped made Jared special, and raising Jared presented Marie and her family members with one challenge after another.
- Some also grant that crossbow use during archery season would be acceptable if limited to physically handicapped shooters.
- ‘We do work closely with groups of disabled people and handicapped people, and we welcome children from Branshaw special school, so we are doing our bit,’ he added.
Usage
The word handicapped is first recorded in the late 19th century in the sense referring to a person’s mental or physical disabilities. In British English it was the standard term until the 1980s, but it has been superseded by disabled, or, in reference to mental disability, expressions such as having learning difficulties or learning-disabled. In American English handicapped is still sometimes used, especially in phrases such as handicapped-accessible and handicapped parking.