handicap

/ˈhændiˌkæp/
noun
  1. A physical or mental condition that makes it difficult for someone to do certain things.
    • Her handicap does not stop her from being an excellent artist.
    • He was born with a visual handicap, but he learned to read Braille.
    • The building has ramps to help people with a handicap enter easily.
  2. A disadvantage that makes success or progress more difficult.
    • Living in a remote area can be a handicap for students who want to attend a good school.
    • The team played with a handicap because their best player was injured.
    • Lack of education can be a serious handicap in finding a good job.
  3. In sports like golf, a number that shows a player's skill level and is used to make the game fairer when players of different abilities compete.
    • She improved her handicap from 20 to 15 after taking lessons.
    • He has a golf handicap of 12, which means he is an average player.
    • The tournament uses a handicap system so beginners can compete with experts.
Antonyms
verb
  1. To make it more difficult for someone or something to succeed or function normally.
    • The heavy rain handicapped the runners during the race.
    • Poor internet connection can handicap students who need to study online.
    • His lack of experience handicapped him in the job interview.
Antonyms
What does "handicap" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean