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

Residents at the rally said the parking fees are just one additional financial hardship facing San Diegans, especially following the city’s new trash collection fee. —Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Jan. 2026

Demonstrations sparked in late December by anger over economic hardship exploded into mass protests against Iran's Islamic rulers. —Olivia Young, CBS News, 23 Jan. 2026

But in the wake of the fire and regular break-ins by vagrants, the city’s Landmark Preservation Commission approved demolition on account of economic hardship in December 2024. —Thomas Gounley, Denver Post, 23 Jan. 2026

The judge did not find the student to be qualified for the hardship exemption. —Cameron MacDonald, Mercury News, 23 Jan. 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