difficulty

noun

DIF-i-kuhl-tee/ˈdɪfɪkəlti/

Pluraldifficulties (some meanings)

6 meanings of difficulty

1
noununcountable
The condition or quality of being hard to do or accomplish.
He completed the final climb only with considerable difficulty.
The difficulty of the negotiations tested everyone's patience.
Similareffort, trouble, complexity
Oppositeease, simplicity
2
nouncountable
An obstacle that stands in the way of reaching a goal.
The team faced a serious difficulty halfway through the project.
Financial difficulties eventually forced the small company to close.
Similarproblem, obstacle, trouble, hurdle
3
nouncountable
An awkward situation, or a quarrel between people.
A small difficulty arose between the partners over who would lead.
The old difficulties between the two families flared up again at the reunion.
Similardisagreement, quarrel, dispute, misunderstanding
4
noununcountableplural
A dangerous situation caused by natural surroundings, especially one in which someone may drown.
Lifeguards rescued three bathers in difficulty during the high tide.
A kayaker in difficulty was pulled from the river by rescuers.
Similardistress, trouble, danger, peril
5
nouncountable
An objection raised against an idea, claim, or plan.
He saw no difficulty with the plan and approved it at once.
Reviewers raised difficulties about the study's methods.
Similarobjection, problem, issue, concern, reservation
6
nouncountable
Something that cannot easily be understood or believed.
The proof contains a difficulty that mathematicians have yet to resolve.
Critics noted several difficulties in the author's account of events.
Similarproblem, puzzle

Practice

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Origin

The word passed from Middle English difficulte and Middle French/Anglo-Norman difficulte from their Latin source difficultas, built on difficilis ('hard to do'), which comes from dis- plus facilis ('easy'). It can be seen as dis- + facile + -ty, or as difficult + -y, though the adjective is historically a backformation from the noun.