English Explanatory Dictionary

difficulty

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. The state of being difficult, or hard to do.
  2. An obstacle that hinders achievement of a goal.
  3. Physical danger from the environment, especially with risk of drowning
  4. An objection.
  5. That which cannot be easily understood or believed.
  6. An awkward situation or quarrel.

Pronunciation

/ˈdɪfɪkəlti/ en-us-difficulty.ogg LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-difficulty.wav

Word forms

difficulty difficulties

Etymology

From Middle English difficulte, from Middle French and Anglo-Norman difficulte and their etymon Latin difficultas, from difficul, older form of difficilis (“hard to do, difficult”), from dis- + facilis (“easy”); see difficile and difficult. Equivalent to dis- + facile + -ty. Also analysable as difficult + -y, though the adjective is historically a backformation from the noun.

Synonyms

trouble

Related words

difficile difficult

Derived words

counterdifficulty difficulty level in difficulty learning difficulty personality difficulty technical difficulty with difficulty with great difficulty
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