handicap
noun /ˈhændikæp/
/ˈhændikæp/
- [countable, uncountable] (old-fashioned, often offensive) a permanent physical or mental condition that makes it difficult or impossible to use a particular part of your body or mind synonym disability
- Despite her handicap, Jane is able to hold down a full-time job.
- mental/physical/visual handicap
Which Word? disabled / handicappeddisabled / handicapped- Disabled is the most generally accepted term to refer to people with a permanent illness or injury that makes it difficult for them to use part of their body completely or easily. Handicapped is old-fashioned and many people now think it is offensive. The expressions disabled people or people with disabilities are often preferred to the disabled because they sound more personal.
- Disabled and disability can be used with other words to talk about a mental condition:
- mentally disabled
- learning disabilities.
- If somebody’s ability to hear, speak or see has been damaged but not destroyed completely, they have impaired hearing/speech/sight (or vision). They can be described as visually/hearing impaired or partially sighted:
- The museum has special facilities for blind and partially sighted visitors.
Extra ExamplesTopics Illnessc2- Over a million people in Great Britain suffer from mental handicap.
- She has managed to overcome her physical handicaps.
- She can't drive because of her visual handicap.
- Handicap can place a great deal of pressure on relatives.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- serious
- severe
- mild
- …
- be born with
- have
- suffer
- …
- despite a/the handicap
- [countable] something that makes it difficult for somebody to do something synonym obstacle
- Not speaking the language proved to be a bigger handicap than I'd imagined.
- In a job like this, lack of experience is no real handicap.
Extra Examples- His lack of height can prove a handicap against tall players.
- Lack of books was a major handicap.
- This could be a serious handicap to her education.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- big
- considerable
- great
- …
- have
- suffer
- prove
- …
- despite a/the handicap
- handicap to
- [countable] (sport) a race or competition in which those who have most skill must run further, carry extra weight, etc. in order to give all those taking part an equal chance of winning; the disadvantage that is given to somebody you are competing against in such a race or competition
- [countable] (in golf ) the number of strokes (= hits) over par (= the expected number of strokes for a good player) that a player usually needs to complete a course. Handicaps are used to give an advantage to weaker players so that competition is more equal when they play against stronger players.
- He plays off a handicap of 5.
Word Originmid 17th cent.: 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 cent.) 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 cent. handicap came to mean the extra weight given to the superior horse.