hardship

noun

hard·​ship ˈhärd-ˌship How to pronounce hardship (audio)
1
2
: something that causes or entails suffering or privation

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
That said, the market has become more uncertain over the last few months, and employers may use that to claim hardship and deny raises. Caroline Ceniza-Levine, Forbes.com, 26 Apr. 2025 Aim to move past hardships and cultivate a different dynamic. Lisa Stardust, Refinery29, 24 Apr. 2025 More broadly, endowments can help shield schools from financial hardships and maintain their long-term reputations. Todd L. Ely, The Conversation, 24 Apr. 2025 That has spared his company the greater hardship of larger tariffs that have been levied on other countries. Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 23 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hardship

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of hardship was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hardship.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hardship. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

hardship

noun
hard·​ship ˈhärd-ˌship How to pronounce hardship (audio)
1
2
: something that causes pain or loss

More from Merriam-Webster on hardship

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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