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

My history has been shaped by hardship, self-discovery and a relentless pursuit of purpose. — Mikhail Shneyder, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026

So as opposed to, say, inspiring American leaders of all kinds, like a real explanation of the character of Harriet Tubman or of Chief Joseph or Americans struggled against real hardships. — Hanna Rosin, The Atlantic, 2 July 2026

More than one in three Mecklenburg County households are facing financial hardship and struggling to meet basic needs, according to a new report from research group United for ALICE. — Nick Sullivan july 2, Charlotte Observer, 2 July 2026

The pseudonymous title character, a depressed, drunken, belligerent twenty-six-year-old advice columnist, has no real hardships of his own and is cursed by doubt. — Hannah Jocelyn, New Yorker, 1 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