# handicap

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈhændikæp/ · frequency rank #12,785

## Definitions
1. Something that prevents, hampers, or hinders.
2. An allowance of a certain amount of time or distance in starting, granted in a race (or other contest of skill) to the competitor possessing disadvantages; or an additional weight or other hindrance imposed upon the one possessing advantages, in order to equalize, as much as possible, the chances of success.
3. The disadvantage itself, in particular physical or mental disadvantages of people.
4. A race or similar contest in which there is an allowance of time, distance, weight, or other advantage, to equalize the chances of the competitors.
5. An old card game, similar to lanterloo.
6. Synonym of hand-in-cap (“old English trading game”).

## Etymology
From hand-in-cap, in reference to holding the game stakes in a cap.

## Common misspellings (12)
`ahndicap`, `hadnicap`, `handciap`, `handdicap`, `handiacp`, `handicapp`, `handiccap`, `handicpa`, `hanidcap`, `hanndicap`, `hhandicap`, `hnadicap`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/handicap