Predicament
/prɪˈdɪkəmənt/
Definitions
A difficult, perplexing, or trying situation.
/prɪˈdɪkəmənt/
A difficult, unpleasant, or embarrassing situation.
He was in a serious predicament after losing his job.
💡 Simply: Imagine you accidentally agreed to do two things at the same time – like promising to help your friend move AND babysit your little sister. That's a predicament! It's a tricky situation where it’s hard to figure out the best way to solve a problem.
👶 For kids: A predicament is when you're in a tricky situation that's hard to get out of.
More Examples
The team found themselves in a difficult predicament with the game tied in the final seconds.
She tried to help him out of his predicament.
His sudden illness put his family in a serious financial predicament.
How It's Used
"The company found itself in a financial predicament after the scandal."
"The witness's testimony placed the defendant in a difficult legal predicament."
Idioms & expressions
to be in a predicament
To be in a difficult situation.
"He found himself in a predicament when he realized he had lost his passport."
From Latin *praedicāmentum* meaning 'thing asserted, category,' from *praedicāre* 'to proclaim, assert.' The word evolved through French, acquiring its sense of a difficult or unpleasant situation.
The word's usage has remained relatively consistent over time, primarily signifying a challenging or troublesome situation, though its formality has somewhat increased.
Memory tip
Think of being 'pre-dictated' into a difficult situation. A 'predicament' is a situation you didn't choose and now must deal with.
Word Origin
"to proclaim, assert"