privation

[ prahy-vey-shuhn ]

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.

privation

/ 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of privation¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of privation¹

C14: from Latin prīvātiō deprivation

Synonym Study

See hardship.

Example Sentences

If SpaceX or similar providers are willing, high-speed internet from the sky could be a powerful way to provide connectivity to people or populations suffering the privations of war or authoritarian government.

From Singularity Hub 

Women figure prominently in his account, if not as a cause of the revolution then for their innovative efforts to enforce the nonconsumption of British imports and later to support the Continental Army amid its privations.

From Washington Post

Yoko Ono, another original member, endured terrible privations in wartime Japan.

From Washington Post

This last man standing, in the case of both groups, will have to overcome a thousand dangers, face every kind of privation, perhaps migrate to other zones and even evade the hostility of humans.

From Nautilus

Possible redemption comes in the form of Orlando (Jeremy Renner), a magician determined to save Ewa from a live of privation.

From The Daily Beast

The distinctive horror of Joseph Heller's war is not body-crushing violence or stomach-squeezing privation.

From The Daily Beast

We had escaped gloom and privation and would wake up in a place where food and warmth were available down the street.

From The Daily Beast

She was delicate and unaccustomed to privation and discomfort—and the cottage had its disadvantages.

From Project Gutenberg

The poor fellow had so weakened his stomach by privation, that he died from eating a good meal given him by a kind friend.

From Project Gutenberg

One had lost all his little store of grain gathered from the gleaning, or bought by great privation for the winter's nourishment.

From Project Gutenberg

The memorial is of bronze, and tells a story of privation and suffering, but of glorious heroism, and victory even in death.

From Project Gutenberg

We reconciled ourselves as we might to this privation, and after dining proceeded onward.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• hardship