plight
1 Americannoun
verb (used with object)
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to pledge (one's troth) in engagement to marry.
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to bind (someone) by a pledge, especially of marriage.
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to give in pledge, as one's word, or to pledge, as one's honor.
noun
verb
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to give or pledge (one's word)
he plighted his word to attempt it
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to promise formally or pledge (allegiance, support, etc)
to plight aid
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to make a promise of marriage
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to give one's solemn promise
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noun
noun
Related Words
See predicament.
Other Word Forms
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”
Explanation
A plight is a situation that's hard to get out of. Learning about the plight of people trying to rebuild their homes after a devastating earthquake might inspire you to send money to a charity. Plight means predicament. It comes from the word for pleat, which means fold. A plight is a tough bind. You'll usually hear the word plight for groups of people or animals struggling to survive, or struggling for better lives. We talk about the plight of refugees, or the plight of sea birds after an oil spill. An old-fashioned use of plight is for pledge. If you get engaged, you give a plight of your love.
Vocabulary lists containing plight
"Letter from Birmingham Jail" by Martin Luther King, Jr. (1963)
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In a Pickle: Words for When You're in Trouble
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Beowulf
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
When Jeremy started posting about Read Books’ plight, the response was immediate and overwhelming.
From Los Angeles Times • May 21, 2026
He was among those who threw his support behind Bristol Blue Glass in November, when their plight was first brought to light.
From BBC • May 13, 2026
Critics argue it could stifle the investment Australia needs to build more houses and could worsen the plight of renters.
From BBC • May 12, 2026
Although the bakers were all acquitted last year, their plight sparked debate across France.
From Barron's • May 1, 2026
Their own plight had not improved by much, but at least they were not slaves.
From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
