hardship

noun

hard·​ship ˈhärd-ˌship 

1

: privation, suffering

2

: something that causes or entails suffering or privation

Synonyms

• difficulty

Examples of hardship in a Sentence

He had suffered through considerable hardship.

The city has been experiencing a period of financial hardship.

They had to endure the hardships of life on the frontier.

Recent Examples on the Web

Deferment for financial hardship would also end, though borrowers in default can now rehabilitate their loans twice instead of once. —Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 July 2025

Setting aside money in emergency funds and online IRA accounts, for example, helps cushion financial hardship during an unexpected loss of income. —Ethan Stone, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025

Malaparte’s misunderstanding of his relations with Mussolini cost him much hardship in the following years. —Thomas Meaney, New Yorker, 2 July 2025

School board Chairperson Jeanne Berger said in a meeting that Stacy's raise was approved in January 2020, before the pandemic contributed to the district's financial hardships. —Jolene Almendarez, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

hardship

noun

hard·​ship ˈhärd-ˌship 

1

: pain entry 1 sense 2a, privation

2

: something that causes pain or loss