difficulty

Etymology

From Middle English difficultee, from Old French difficulté, from Latin difficultas, from difficul, older form of difficilis (“hard to do, difficult”), from dis- + facilis (“easy”); see difficile and difficult. Equivalent to dis- + facile + -ty. Also analysable as difficult + -y, though the adjective is historically a backformation from the noun.

noun

1. The state of being difficult, or hard to do.
2. An obstacle that hinders achievement of a goal.
   We faced a difficulty in trying to book a flight so late.
   The two-hour debate was briefly stalled by a technical difficulty with the moderators’ microphones. June 27 2019, Lauren Gambino, “Democratic 2020 candidates clash on healthcare, immigration and economy in first debate”, in The Guardian
3. (sometimes in the plural) Physical danger from the environment, especially with risk of drowning
   2012 August 2, "Children rescued after getting into difficulties in Donegal" BBC Online
   March 30 2016, Alan Thompson, “Diver taken to hospital after getting into difficulties at Stoney Cove diving centre”, in Leicester Mercury:
   The three teenagers, a girl and two boys, were playing by the river when it is believed they got into difficulty. February 24 2016, Catherine Shanahan, “Boy, 13, drowns after getting into difficulty in river”, in Irish Examiner
   Members of the public had called 999 as they were concerned the kayaker was in difficulty around the headland race due to very strong spring tides and choppy seas with the kayaker making no headway. March 14 2016, “Kayaker rescued after getting into difficulty”, in Bournemouth Echo
   A group of young people had to be rescued from Dartmoor on Friday night after getting into difficulty during a Duke of Edinburgh exercise. […] A 16-year-old girl required medical attention and a medic was winched down to the site by helicopter. March 19 2016, Neil Shaw, “Teens rescued from Dartmoor after getting into difficulty”, in Plymouth Herald
4. An objection.
5. That which cannot be easily understood or believed.
6. An awkward situation or quarrel.