privation

American  

[prahy-vey-shuhn] / praɪˈveɪ ʃən /

noun

1. lack of the usual comforts or necessaries of life.

   His life of privation began to affect his health.

   Synonyms:

   distress, need, want, deprivation

2. an instance of this.

3. the act of depriving.

4. the state of being deprived.

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privation British  

/ praɪˈveɪʃən /

noun

1. loss or lack of the necessities of life, such as food and shelter

2. hardship resulting from this

3. the state of being deprived

4. obsolete logic the absence from an object of what ordinarily or naturally belongs to such objects

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Related Words

See hardship.

Etymology

Origin of privation

1350–1400; Middle English (from Middle French privacion ) from Latin prīvātiōn- (stem of prīvātiō ) “a taking away.” See private, -ion

Example Sentences

And it could help a fledgling government to pay salaries, begin to rebuild, and address the growing discontent over the privations of daily life.

From BBC

Rather, it was because he came to realize he wasn’t empathetic enough to class differences and the privations of others.

From Los Angeles Times

Saunders and Gamble dig into the domestic privations of poverty — the lack of food and heat, the shame of wearing the same old clothes every day, the constant worry about what’s next.

From Los Angeles Times

International humanitarian officials said the military operation had halted the flow of aid from Egypt into Gaza, exacerbating extreme hunger and privation in the besieged territory.

From New York Times

Through their privations they remain pretty people, as a screen romance would require; the producers want you to love these lovers and stick around six hours to the end.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• hardship