What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
misfortune
Example
It was a misfortune that the car broke down on the way to the airport. [misfortune: noun]
Example
She has had her share of misfortunes in life, but she always manages to bounce back. [misfortunes: plural noun]
hardship
Example
The refugees endured many hardships during their journey to safety. [hardships: plural noun]
Example
Living in poverty can bring many hardships, including hunger and homelessness. [hardship: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Misfortune and hardship are both common words, but hardship is more frequently used in contexts related to poverty, war, or other forms of extreme adversity. Misfortune is often used in a more general sense to describe any unlucky or unfortunate event.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between misfortune and hardship?
Both misfortune and hardship are neutral in terms of formality and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
