plight
Plight (noun) means a difficult, distressing situation. Example: “The charity drew attention to the plight of refugees.”
How to use plight
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA tough, often desperate, situation someone finds themselves in.
The verb sense ("plight one's troth") survives mainly in the old phrase from wedding traditions and is otherwise archaic.
Word forms
- Singular
- plights
- Plural
- plights
- Past tense
- plighted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The charity drew attention to the _____ of refugees.
Etymology
From Old English pliht ("danger, risk"), blended with an Old French word meaning "condition" or "fold." Related to pledge.
Related words
Rhymes for plight
See all rhymes for plight →Frequently asked questions
What does “plight” mean?
The word “plight” means a difficult, distressing situation. In plain terms, a tough, often desperate, situation someone finds themselves in.
How do you pronounce “plight”?
“Plight” is pronounced plyt (/plaɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “plight” in a sentence?
Here is “plight” used in a sentence: “The charity drew attention to the plight of refugees.”
What part of speech is “plight”?
Depending on how it is used, “plight” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “plight” come from?
The word “plight” comes from Old French. From Old English pliht ("danger, risk"), blended with an Old French word meaning "condition" or "fold." Related to pledge.
Is “plight” a common word?
“Plight” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “plight” have?
“Plight” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a difficult, distressing situation.
