Dictionary Home » Dictionary Definitions » difficulty

difficulty

Listen See in Thesaurus See in a sentence

The definition of a difficulty refers to something that hinders you or causes you to have to face challenges, or the state or condition of being challenged or having a hard time.

(noun)

When you have a very hard time learning to ski, this is an example of a time when you have difficulty skiing.
A challenge that arises that prevents you from achieving your goal is an example of a difficulty.

See difficulty in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun pl. difficulties

the condition or fact of being difficult
something that is difficult, as a hard problem or an obstacle or objection
trouble, distress, etc., or a cause of this
a disagreement or quarrel

Origin: ME & OFr difficulte < L difficultas < difficilis, difficult < dis-, not + facilis, easy: see facile

See difficulty in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. dif·fi·cul·ties

The condition or quality of being difficult: the difficulty of a task.
Something not easily done, accomplished, comprehended, or solved.
A troublesome or embarrassing state of affairs, especially of financial affairs. Often used in the plural.
A laborious effort; a struggle; trouble: had difficulty walking; completed the test with difficulty.
A disagreement or dispute.
Reluctance or an objection; unwillingness.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English difficulte

Origin: , from Old French dificulte

Origin: , from Latin difficultās

Origin: , from difficilis, difficult

Origin: : dis-, dis-

Origin: + facilis, easy; see dhē- in Indo-European roots

Learn more about difficulty

difficulty synonyms

difficulty phrase meanings

difficulty in a sentence

difficulty quotes