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.
The nonpartisan election handicapper Cook Political Report rates Kemp’s seat as a toss-up. Brandon Conradis, The Hill, 29 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 To stay ahead of the competition, handicappers need sharp tools and consistent insight. Jared Welch, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025 The election handicapper Sabato’s Crystal Ball has already shifted Ernst’s race slightly toward Democrats — from safe to likely Republican — citing Scholten’s challenge and the senator’s remarks. Julia Mueller, The Hill, 11 June 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 6 Aug. 2025.

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