English Reference
noun

adversity

n.
US /ædˈvɝsɪˌti/ UK /ædvˈəsɪti/ ad·ver·si·ty UK spelling adversities

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    a difficult situation or a period of bad luck that you have to overcome.

    a state of continued misfortune or difficult circumstances. Often used uncountably to describe a general condition of hardship.

    Simple

    She showed great courage in the face of adversity after losing her job.

    In context

    The resilience of the community was tested by economic adversity, yet they managed to rebuild their local industries within a decade.

Show Dean Brennan praised Barnet ’s response to adversity after they fought back from 2-1 down to maintain their unbeaten  start with a 2-2 draw against Cheltenham .

The Guardian· 29 Aug 2026

Even in their moments of greatest adversity, Mir and Shukria always kept a twinkle in their eyes.

The Guardian· 17 Aug 2026
This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated