handicapped

adjective

hand·​i·​capped ˈhan-di-ˌkapt  -dē- 

sometimes offensive

: having a physical or mental disability

also : of or reserved for disabled persons

handicapped parking spaces

Examples of handicapped in a Sentence

He has been handicapped since his motorcycle accident.

Recent Examples on the Web

Three decades later, similar issues persist In 1990, Patti Schwetz Casella began her career as a K-6 teacher for emotionally handicapped students at the interlocal in Hebron. —IndyStar, 3 Sep. 2025

The result is a growing productivity and satisfaction gap that’s quietly driving talent away from traditional companies and toward organizations that don't make their employees feel technologically handicapped. —Steven Wolfe Pereira, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025

The Locke family can't afford the buy tickets in the handicapped section, but the boy was excited to attend a practice. —Beth Warren, The Tennessean, 10 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1884, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing handicapped

• multi-handicapped

Rhymes for handicapped

• nonhandicapped
• adapt
• entrapped
• inapt
• kidnaped
• kidnapped
• uncapped
• unmapped
• untapped
• unwrapped
• apt
• capped

Kids Definition

handicapped

adjective

1

sometimes offensive : having a physical or mental disability

2

: of or reserved for individuals with a physical disability

handicapped parking spaces

Medical Definition

handicapped

adjective

hand·​i·​capped -ˌkapt 

sometimes offensive

: having a physical or mental disability

also : of or reserved for individuals with a physical disability

handicapped parking spaces

Legal Definition

handicapped

adjective

han·​di·​capped

: having a disability that substantially limits a major life activity (as caring for oneself, working, or having sensory functions)