plight

¹ American  

[plahyt] / plaɪt /

noun

1. a condition, state, or situation, especially an unfavorable or unfortunate one.

   to find oneself in a sorry plight.

---

plight ² American  

[plahyt] / plaɪt /

verb (used with object)

1. to pledge (one's troth) in engagement to marry.

2. to bind (someone) by a pledge, especially of marriage.

3. to give in pledge, as one's word, or to pledge, as one's honor.

---

noun

1. Archaic. pledge.

plight ¹ British  

/ plaɪt /

verb

1. to give or pledge (one's word)

   he plighted his word to attempt it

2. to promise formally or pledge (allegiance, support, etc)

   to plight aid

3. 1. to make a promise of marriage

   2. to give one's solemn promise

---

noun

1. archaic a solemn promise, esp of engagement; pledge

plight ² British  

/ plaɪt /

noun

1. a condition of extreme hardship, danger, etc

---

Related Words

See predicament.

Other Word Forms

• plighter noun
• unplighted adjective

Etymology

Origin of plight¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English plit “fold, condition, bad condition,” from Anglo-French (cognate with Middle French pleit plait ) “fold, manner of folding, condition”; spelling apparently influenced by plight ² in obsolete sense “danger”

Origin of plight²

First recorded before 1000; (noun) Middle English; Old English pliht “danger, risk”; cognate with Dutch plicht, German Pflicht “duty, obligation”; (verb) Middle English plighten, Old English plihtan (derivative of the noun) “to endanger, risk, pledge”; cognate with Old High German phlichten “to engage oneself,” Middle Dutch plihten “to guarantee”

Example Sentences

The everlasting draw of “The Forsyte Saga” to both men and women, then, is in the way these stories capture the plight of patriarchal pressures, spoken and implied.

From Salon • Mar. 28, 2026

Near another terminal, college freshman Juliana Tonelete told AFP that while she sympathised with the plight of drivers, her own financial situation took priority.

From Barron's • Mar. 24, 2026

But as much as Sarah’s plight with infertility is relatable, other moments in the story took more work to get there, like the moment where Abraham talks with God.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 20, 2026

Spurs may even regard it as an inconvenience, such is their desperate Premier League plight one point above the relegation zone.

From BBC • Mar. 11, 2026

I realized that the bloggers’ interest in my dress gave me a platform to talk about the plight of refugees.

From "How Dare the Sun Rise" by Sandra Uwiringiyimana

Related Words

• condition
• predicament
• quandary
• trouble