What does handicap mean?
A handicap most often means a disadvantage that restricts someone’s opportunities, progress, or performance. It may be something intrinsic, such as illness or lack of experience, or a limitation imposed by circumstances. In sports, the term also has a more specific meaning: an artificial disadvantage, such as extra distance, a time allowance, or a points penalty, intended to make competitors with different abilities more evenly matched. A golfer’s handicap is a numerical rating based on expected performance relative to par. As a verb, “to handicap” means to place a participant or another person at a disadvantage, sometimes deliberately. Although the word is fully established in British and American English, its older use as a description of disabled people is now avoided in favor of more precise, respectful terminology. The word is memorable because it originated in a horse-racing betting custom involving a cap and the drawing of lots.
A disadvantage or restriction that limits a person’s opportunities, or an artificial disadvantage designed to make competitors’ chances more equal. In golf, it is a numerical measure of expected performance relative to par.
"His injured ankle remained a serious handicap during the tournament."
The sporting sense refers to an imposed competitive disadvantage. The older use of the derived form “handicapped” for disabled people is now considered inappropriate in most contexts.
To place a person, team, or participant at a disadvantage, especially by imposing a sporting allowance or penalty.
"The handicapper gave the leading horse an extra five yards."
Common in racing and other competitive contexts; less common in general use.
The plural is “handicaps” when referring to multiple disadvantages, restrictions, or competitive allowances.
"The company offers flexible schedules to workers with significant handicaps."
“Handicap” began with a betting ritual: competing horse owners placed money in a cap and drew lots to decide which horse would carry a disadvantage.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does handicap come from?
The word entered English in the early eighteenth century through the phrase “hand in the cap,” associated with betting on horse races. The custom involved placing money in a cap and drawing it until one stake remained, helping determine which horse would receive a disadvantage. From this racing practice came both the noun “handicap” and the verb meaning to impose a disadvantage; the sense was later extended to other sports, including golf.
Related word forms
How handicap is actually used
The word is standard in British and American English. “Handicapped” has become outdated or potentially offensive when used to describe a person; “disabled” or “person with a disability” is generally preferred in modern usage. In competitive contexts, “handicap” usually denotes an imposed sporting disadvantage rather than disability.