1hand·i·cap 
/ˈhændiˌkæp/ noun
plural hand·i·caps /ˈhændiˌkæp/ noun [count] 1 sometimes offensive : a physical or mental condition that may limit what a person can do : a physical or mental disability
▪ a mental/physical handicap ◊Some people consider the word handicap offensive in this sense and prefer the word disability. 2 : a problem, situation, or event that makes progress or success difficult
▪ His shyness was a handicap in his job. 3 golf : a number that shows a golfer's level of skill and that is used to allow golfers of different abilities to compete with each other
▪ She's been practicing a lot and her handicap has gone down from 18 to 12. 4 : a horse race in which some horses are required to carry more weight so that all the horses in the race will have an equal chance of winning
▪ a mental/physical handicap ◊Some people consider the word handicap offensive in this sense and prefer the word disability.
▪ His shyness was a handicap in his job.
▪ She's been practicing a lot and her handicap has gone down from 18 to 12.
