handicapper

noun

hand·​i·​cap·​per ˈhan-di-ˌka-pər How to pronounce handicapper (audio)
-dē-
1
: a person who assigns handicaps
2
: a person who predicts the winners in a contest (such as a horse race)
3
: a person who competes with a (specified) handicap (as in golf)
usually used in combination
a 5-handicapper

Examples of handicapper in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Some longtime bullish technical market handicappers have been using 6,600 as an upside target for nearly a year (John Kolovos at Macro Risk Advisors and Craig Johnson of Piper Sandler among them). Michael Santoli, CNBC, 8 Sep. 2025 A number of factors beyond redistricting leave Democrats well positioned to seize the chamber, according to election handicappers, who say the national mood favors the more energized Democrats. Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 25 Aug. 2025 To stay ahead of the competition, handicappers need sharp tools and consistent insight. Jared Welch, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025 Derby: Expert handicapper Ed DeRosa is a big proponent that winning money at the Kentucky Derby is more important than picking the winner. Ray Padilla, The Courier-Journal, 2 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for handicapper

Word History

First Known Use

1751, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of handicapper was in 1751

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Cite this Entry

“Handicapper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/handicapper. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

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