noun
Uncommon
plight
plyt
Plight (noun) means a difficult, distressing situation. Example: “The charity drew attention to the plight of refugees.”
noun
1
A difficult, distressing situation.
"The charity drew attention to the plight of refugees."
"Nobody seemed to care about the plight of the flood victims."
verb
1
Archaic: to pledge or promise, especially as part of a marriage vow.
"They plighted their troth before the whole village."
How to use plight
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA tough, often desperate, situation someone finds themselves in.
Common mistake
The verb sense ("plight one's troth") survives mainly in the old phrase from wedding traditions and is otherwise archaic.
Common pairings
dire plight
the plight of
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Word forms
- Plural
- plights
- Third person singular
- 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.
