noun, plural dif·fi·cul·ties.
- the fact or condition of being difficult.
- Often difficul·ties. an embarrassing situation, especially of financial affairs.
- a trouble or struggle.
- a cause of trouble, struggle, or embarrassment.
- a disagreement or dispute.
- reluctance; unwillingness.
- a demur; objection.
- something that is hard to do, understand, or surmount; an impediment or obstacle.
noun plural -ties
- the state or quality of being difficult
- a task, problem, etc, that is hard to deal with
- (often plural) a troublesome or embarrassing situation, esp a financial one
- a dispute or disagreement
- (often plural) an objection or obstaclehe always makes difficulties
- a trouble or source of trouble; worry
- lack of ease; awkwardnesshe could run only with difficulty
late 14c., from Old French difficulté, from Latin difficultatem (nominative difficultas) “difficulty, distress, poverty,” from difficilis “hard,” from dis- “not, away from” (see dis-) + facilis “easy” (see facile).