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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
My Oscar oracle, sports handicapper Danny Sheridan, has been uncannily correct picking the top six categories over the last five years. Richard Johnson, New York Daily News, 2 Mar. 2025 Many handicappers and horse players are playing in online qualifying tournaments hoping to win a seat in the NHC, presented by Caesars Entertainment and Racetrack Television Network. Jay Ginsbach, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025 The election handicapper Cook Political Report found Republicans with an advantage to keep control of the Senate in the 2026 midterm elections in its initial ratings set for next year. Jared Gans, The Hill, 12 Feb. 2025 Top political handicappers tweak their predictions The Briefing is just one layer of The Republic's coverage of politics and the 2024 election. Rafael Carranza, The Arizona Republic, 31 Oct. 2024 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 14 Mar. 2025.

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