# handicapped

/ˈhændiˌkæpt/ (US) · /hˈændɪkˌæpt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/handicapped
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. having a disability

adjective · CEFR B2

having a physical or mental condition that makes it harder to do certain things.

For teachers: having a physical or mental disability that limits one's capacity for certain activities. This term is increasingly viewed as offensive in modern contexts.

- The old hotel did not have any rooms for handicapped guests.
- The legislation was originally designed to protect the rights of handicapped citizens, though the terminology has since been updated to reflect modern standards of respect.

Usage: Often used as a collective noun with 'the' (the handicapped), though this is now considered dated.

Teaching tip: This word is now considered insensitive or offensive by many. Advise students to use 'disabled' or 'accessible' instead.

### 2. limited or disadvantaged

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

put at a disadvantage or limited by something.

For teachers: placed at a disadvantage or restricted by a specific impediment or circumstance.

- Small businesses are often handicapped by a lack of funding.
- The local team was severely handicapped by the sudden injury of their star player just minutes before the championship began.

Usage: Often used in a figurative sense regarding business or competition.

Teaching tip: In this sense, the word is less about physical disability and more about a general lack of resources or power.

### 3. a person with a disability

noun · CEFR C2 · Dialect

a person who has a physical or mental disability.

For teachers: a person with a physical or mental impairment. This usage is common in Indian English but is considered offensive or dated in most other dialects.

- The charity provides special equipment for the handicapped in the city.
- The advocate argued that the city's infrastructure failed to meet the basic needs of the handicapped living in the crowded urban centre.

Usage: Used as a countable noun primarily in South Asian varieties of English.

Teaching tip: Students should be aware that using this as a noun is highly likely to cause offense in the UK, US, or Australia.

## Examples

- The building has a ramp for handicapped access.
- Older public buildings were often renovated to include handicapped parking spaces and wider doorways for wheelchair users.
- The legislation aimed to remove barriers for handicapped citizens, though modern advocates argue that the terminology used in the original text reflects an outdated medical model of disability.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.