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

But truthfully, through the hardships come new outlooks, gratitude, positivity, and a freeing new way to see life. —Cara Lynn Shultz, People.com, 22 Aug. 2025

Long before the snow fell, the very memory of that place could prime their bodies for hardship, raising metabolism, warming the blood, preparing muscles to endure. —William A. Haseltine, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025

While death in any case is a tragedy, it’s exacerbated by the complexities of youth, as yet another issue young people have to grapple with along with the normal hardships of growing up, navigating your identity and trying to fit in. —Katherine Singh, Refinery29, 20 Aug. 2025

In a corresponding move, the Fever signed guard Shey Peddy to a seven-day hardship contract and released guard Kyra Lambert. —Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 19 Aug. 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