strife
- 01 C1 Advanced
angry or violent disagreement between two people or groups.
bitter, sometimes violent conflict or dissension between opposing parties.
Simple“The country has suffered through years of civil strife and economic problems.”
In context“The region has been plagued by ethnic strife for decades, hindering any meaningful attempts at diplomatic reconciliation.”
UsageOften used as an uncountable noun in political contexts, though countable uses occur when referring to specific instances of conflict.
- 02 C2 Proficiency
general trouble, problems, or hard work.
earnest endeavor or exertion; colloquially, any form of trouble or hardship.
Simple“He wanted a quiet life away from the strife of the city.”
In context“After years of professional strife and constant deadlines, she decided to retire to a small coastal village.”
UsageIn modern English, this sense is less common than the 'conflict' sense and often carries a more personal, weary tone.
From Middle English strif, stryf, striffe, from Old French estrif, noun derived from estriver, from Frankish *strīban; compare Dutch strijven. More at strive.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.