# adversity

/ædˈvɝsɪˌti/ (US) · /ædvˈəsɪti/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/adversity
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. hardship or misfortune

noun · CEFR B2

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

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

- She showed great courage in the face of adversity after losing her job.
- The resilience of the community was tested by economic adversity, yet they managed to rebuild their local industries within a decade.

## Examples

- She showed great strength in the face of adversity.
- The company survived the economic downturn despite significant financial adversity.
- His early years were marked by severe adversity, including poverty and illness, yet he never lost his sense of hope.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.