hardship

noun

hard·​ship ˈhärd-ˌship 

1

: privation, suffering

recovering from financial hardship

2

: something that causes or entails suffering or privation

the hardships of life on the frontier

Synonyms of hardship

• 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

As literature scholar and archivist Jolie Braun writes, drawing on three memoirs from this era, women in that line of work had some distinct advantages but also faced serious hardships, both physical and social. — Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 18 Sep. 2026

Last year the Legislature forced DACA college students to shift from paying in-state to costlier out-of-state tuition, a mean-spirited and severe hardship. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 18 Sep. 2026

Rivera and Guzman were arrested and have both been charged with child abuse under conditions likely to cause serious hardship or death, according to the criminal complaint filed against them in Yolo County Superior Court. — Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2026

Many card issuers offer hardship programs that can temporarily lower your interest rate, reduce your monthly payment or otherwise modify your account terms. — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026

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