handicapped
handicapped Lexical Profile
handicapped Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Having a condition that markedly restricts one's ability to function physically, mentally, or socially.
"The municipal building was renovated to provide better access for handicapped visitors."
Placed at a disadvantage or hindered in achieving success or progress.
"The small startup felt handicapped by strict regulations and limited funding."
• noun
People who have a physical or mental disability considered collectively (typically preceded by "the").
"The charity was originally founded in the 1960s to provide vocational training for the handicapped."
Word Nuance & Usage
In modern clinical, legal, and everyday contexts, "handicapped" is widely considered outdated when referring to people, with "disabled" or person-first phrasing like "person with a disability" strongly preferred. However, it still persists in older statutory language and established phrases such as "handicapped parking."
• Rhymes for handicapped
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from the noun "handicap," which originated in the 17th-century English trading game "hand-in-cap," where players placed forfeit money inside a cap to equalize uneven trades.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.