privation.

A lack of things needed for a reasonably secure or comfortable life.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• endure privation
• years of privation

On the page

Years of privation had taught her to save even the shortest lengths of string.

Usage notes

Primary category: literary / elevated general. Forms: Countable or uncountable by context; countable singular privation; plural privations. Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings. Established modern English lexical item. No separate regional spelling or grammatical inflection entry. Commonness: uncommon.