Adversity
/ədˈvɜːrsɪti/
nounIntermediate📊CommonCircumstance
1 meaning1 idiom/phrase2 questions
Definitions
1
A state or instance of serious or continued difficulty or misfortune.
/ədˈvɜːrsɪti/
nounnegativeIntermediate
Circumstance
Difficult circumstances or misfortune.
Overcoming adversity is a key to success.
💡 Simply: Hard times or bad luck.
More Examples
2
The team showed great strength in the face of adversity.
How It's Used
Life experiences
"She faced adversity with courage and resilience."
Business
"The company overcame significant financial adversity."
Idioms & expressions
in the face of adversity
Despite difficult circumstances.
"They persevered in the face of adversity."
From Old French adversité, from Latin adversitas, from adversus "opposite, against."
The word has been used to describe difficult circumstances since the Middle Ages.
Memory tip
Think of 'ad' (against) and 'versity' (fortune) - fortune against you.
Word Origin
LanguageLatin
Original meaning
"turned against, opposed"
Base: adverse
face adversityovercome adversityin the face of adversity
Common misspellings
advesityadversitysadversitee
Practice
Usage
30%Spoken
70%Written