hardship
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
a situation where you suffer because you lack money, food, or other basic things.
a condition of severe privation or suffering, often resulting from poverty or lack of resources.
Simple“The family faced great hardship after the factory closed and they lost their income.”
In context“The economic depression brought widespread hardship to the region, leaving many families unable to afford basic heating during the winter months.”
UsageOften used as an uncountable noun to describe a general state of suffering, but can be countable when referring to specific difficult events.
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
a specific problem or difficult situation that makes your life harder.
a specific circumstance that imposes a burden or creates a significant obstacle for an individual.
Simple“The long commute to work was a real hardship for the new parents.”
In context“The court may grant a waiver if the defendant can prove that the fine would cause undue financial hardship.”
UsageCommonly appears in the phrase 'undue hardship' in legal or formal contexts.
Teacher's tipIn formal or legal English, this sense often refers to a difficulty that is considered 'too much' to expect someone to bear.
Usage economic hardship
“In Mandinka, Mentending means tomato, a name her family connected to survival, like a plant that continues to grow despite hardship.”
“His resourcefulness, humour and care for others, even in the face of hardship, remind me of people I’ve known throughout my life.”
From Middle English hardshipe, equivalent to hard + -ship.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.