hardship
A very difficult and uncomfortable situation in life, especially when you do not have enough money or basic things you need.
Severe difficulty or suffering, especially caused by not having enough money, food, or basic comforts, or by very hard living conditions.
A serious problem or high cost that you use as a reason to ask for special treatment, such as lower payments or an exception to a rule.
A serious difficulty, cost, or disadvantage that is accepted as a valid reason for changing, delaying, or waiving a normal rule, requirement, or payment.
- Base: hardship
- Plural: hardship, hardships
economic hardship
1serious economic difficulty
Serious money and job problems in a person’s life, a group, or a whole country, often caused by a bad economy.
- Many small businesses closed during the period of economic hardship.
- The policy changes led to economic hardship for farmers in the region.
- The report warns that rising prices may cause widespread economic hardship.
financial hardship
1serious money-related difficulty
Serious money problems that make it hard to pay for basic needs or bills.
- After the accident, the family fell into financial hardship and struggled to pay rent.
- The charity supports people in financial hardship due to illness or job loss.
- Students facing financial hardship can apply for additional funding.
hardship allowance
1extra pay for difficult conditions
Extra money that a worker gets because their job is in very hard or unpleasant conditions or in a difficult place.
- Employees who work in remote villages receive a hardship allowance.
- The contract includes a hardship allowance for staff posted in conflict areas.
- Some teachers refuse positions in the region, even with the hardship allowance.
undue hardship
1excessive difficulty or cost
A very serious problem, cost, or difficulty that is too big and is therefore not fair to require from a person or company.
- An employer is not required to make changes that would cause undue hardship to the business.
- The court decided that repaying the full amount would create undue hardship for the debtor.
- The law allows exceptions when following the rule would result in undue hardship.
undue hardship
2very serious or excessive hardship
A very serious problem, cost, or difficulty, especially a legal limit on what an employer or organization must do to help someone.
- Employers must provide reasonable accommodations unless it would cause undue hardship.
- The court decided that allowing the request would not create an undue hardship for the company.