handicap

1. Something that prevents, hampers, or hinders. (countable, uncountable) · Age is often a handicap.
2. An allowance of a certain amount of time or distance in starting, granted in a race (or other contest of skill) to the competitor possessing disadvantages; or an additional weight or other hindrance imposed upon the one possessing advantages, in order to equalize, as much as possible, the chances of success. (countable, uncountable) · The older boy won, even though his opponent had been granted a handicap of five meters.· A handicap in chess often involves removal of the queen's rook.
3. An individual's physical or mental disadvantage or disability. (countable, uncountable)
4. A race or similar contest in which there is an allowance of time, distance, weight, or other advantage, to equalize the chances of the competitors. (countable, uncountable)

Plural handicaps