- loss or lack of the necessities of life, such as food and shelter
- hardship resulting from this
- the state of being deprived
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
pri•va•tion /praɪˈveɪʃən/USA pronunciation
n.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- [uncountable] lack of the usual comforts or necessary things of life.
- [countable] an instance of this.
pri•va•tion
(prī vā′shən),USA pronunciation n.
- lack of the usual comforts or necessaries of life:His life of privation began to affect his health.
- an instance of this.
- the act of depriving.
- the state of being deprived.
- Latin prīvātiōn- (stem of prīvātiō) a taking away. See private, -ion
- Middle French privacion)
- Middle English (1350–1400
- 1. deprivation, want, need, distress. See hardship.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
privation /praɪˈveɪʃən/ n
'privation' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):