vicissitude
/vɪˈsɪs.ɪ.tjuːd/ IELTSAcademic
noun
A change in life or in a situation, especially one that is sudden, unpleasant, or hard to predict. It is often used in formal writing.
- They faced the vicissitudes of war.
- Her career had many vicissitudes.
- He learned to accept life's vicissitudes.
Adinary Nuance
Vicissitude is more formal and literary than change or problem. It suggests repeated ups and downs, often in life, work, or history. Writers choose it when they want a serious tone, not a simple everyday word.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- sự thăng trầm
- Spanish
- vicisitud
- Chinese
- 变迁
- Japanese
- 変転
- Korean
- 우여곡절
Etymology
Vicissitude comes from Latin vicissitudo, from vicis, meaning 'change' or 'turn'. It entered English in the 15th century, and it has kept its formal tone.
Common phrases
the vicissitudes of lifeface vicissitudeslife's vicissitudes
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is vicissitude a common word in everyday English?
- No, it is uncommon in daily speech. You will see it more in formal writing, books, and essays.
- What is the difference between vicissitude and hardship?
- Hardship focuses on suffering or difficulty. Vicissitude focuses on changing conditions, often with ups and downs.
- Can I use vicissitude in business writing?
- Yes, but only in formal or reflective writing. It may sound too literary for simple business messages.
- How do I use vicissitude in a sentence?
- Use it for a change or difficulty in a long, often serious situation. Example: 'The company survived many vicissitudes.'