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 inflation skyrockets in Iran, many civilians will feel the bite of poverty and hardship in the coming months, said Hadi Kahalzadeh, economist and non-resident fellow at the Quincy Institute. — Jeremy Diamond, CNN Money, 31 July 2026

Advocates warn that with one in five borrowers already in default, immediate action is crucial to prevent further financial hardship for millions navigating a failing system. — Adam S. Minsky, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026

Many credit card issuers offer temporary hardship assistance to customers experiencing financial setbacks, such as job loss, reduced income, medical expenses or other unexpected challenges. — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 31 July 2026

The talkies’ arrival was a major hardship in many respects for the movie industry, as theater owners had to install expensive new equipment, and studios could no longer easily export fresh product to lucrative foreign markets. — Dennis Harvey, Variety, 31 July 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