difficulty

American  

[dif-i-kuhl-tee] / ˈdɪf ɪˌkʌl ti /

noun

• difficulties
  plural

1. the fact or condition of being difficult.

2. Often difficulties. an embarrassing situation, especially of financial affairs.

   Synonyms:

   strait, exigency, fix, plight, quandary, predicament, dilemma

3. a trouble or struggle.

   Synonyms:

   problem

4. a cause of trouble, struggle, or embarrassment.

5. a disagreement or dispute.

6. reluctance; unwillingness.

7. a demur; objection.

8. something that is hard to do, understand, or surmount; an impediment or obstacle.

---

difficulty British  

/ ˈdɪfɪkəltɪ /

noun

1. the state or quality of being difficult

2. a task, problem, etc, that is hard to deal with

3. (often plural) a troublesome or embarrassing situation, esp a financial one

4. a dispute or disagreement

5. (often plural) an objection or obstacle

   he always makes difficulties

6. a trouble or source of trouble; worry

7. lack of ease; awkwardness

   he could run only with difficulty

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• predifficulty
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• difficulties
  plural

Etymology

Origin of difficulty

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English difficulte, from Anglo-French, from Latin difficultās, equivalent to difficil(is) difficile + -tās -ty ²

Explanation

A difficulty is anything that gives you a hard or difficult time. If you eat a lot of chips and dip before dinner, you may have some difficulty finishing your meal. A difficulty is anything that causes problems. Forgetting an answer during a test could be a difficulty. A broken leg is a more painful difficulty. A poor economy is a difficulty, and losing your job is a more personal difficulty. A difficulty is also anything that’s not easy to do, like becoming a doctor or lifting a huge weight. Difficulties are generally serious or hard to overcome. If you’re having difficulty, you’re having troubles.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

difficulty difficulties

The president and his allies have also highlighted the difficulty of safely organizing such a vote amid continuing hostilities and said a ceasefire would be necessary to facilitate it.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026

In Essex, Shelina Rahman, 41, and her 15-year-old daughter Sameeha Rahman, died after getting into difficulty in the water on the Essex coast at West Mersea, where they were trying to help a seven-year-old boy.

From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2026

Wellpointe has nine senior housing complexes in the San Fernando Valley, but it has had difficulty acquiring enough single-family homes in the area to significantly expand its presence, he said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026

The difficulty is that “Who Wins Wars” seldom ventures far beyond them.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026

The young man had been the first admirer, but she trusted there was no other hold, and that there would be no serious difficulty, on Harriet’s side, to oppose any friendly arrangement of her own.

From "Emma" by Jane Austen

The new records highlight the difficulties fueled by climate change facing the Colorado River, a crucial resource for 40 million people.

From Barron's ● Aug. 17, 2026

We expected difficulties due to the war in the Middle East.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

Although service members expect such difficulties, the situation on the USS Lincoln raises additional concern among sailors, Roland said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026

The 25-year-old centre-back has been a controversial figure because of the difficulties he has faced since his £75m move from Leicester City in 2022.

From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026

Looking at the block, we may get some inkling of Michelangelo’s difficulties here.

From "History of Art, Volume 1" by H.W. Janson

Related Words

• anxiety
• complication
• crisis
• embarrassment
• frustration
• inconvenience
• misery
• predicament
• pressure
• setback
• stress
• strife
• struggle
• trouble
• worry