'adversidad' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'adversitas', where 'advers-' came from 'adversus' meaning 'turned toward or against' and the suffix '-itas' denoted a state or condition.

'adversidad' changed from the Latin 'adversitas' through Vulgar Latin and Old Spanish; it is related to Old French 'adversité' and entered modern Spanish as 'adversidad'.

Initially it referred broadly to being 'against' or 'opposed' (a state of opposition); over time it narrowed to the sense of 'misfortune, difficulty, or hardship' used in modern Spanish.