Catastrophe
A sudden, widespread disaster or misfortune; a complete collapse or breakdown of a system, event, or plan.
nounCatastrophe
A sudden, widespread disaster or misfortune; a complete collapse or breakdown of a system, event, or plan.
nounImagine This
Imagine a coastal city battered by a huge hurricane: homes topple, floods rise, and emergency crews race through rubble as sirens wail—this is a catastrophe.
Sounds Like
kuh-TAS-truh-fee
Looks Like
Related visually to the word 'catastrophic'; rooted in the Greek katastrophē (downward turning)
Remember This
Catastrophe is used for large-scale disasters or total failures. The adjective form is catastrophic; the adverb is catastrophically.
Other Forms
Connect With
disaster, calamity, crisis, debacle, ruin, collapse
Note
Reserve catastrophe for major disasters or failures. Do not confuse with 'calamity' (a synonym) or with more minor problems. Distinguish between noun (catastrophe) and adjective/adverb forms (catastrophic, catastrophically).
Study Deeper
- The hurricane caused a catastrophe along the coastline, destroying homes and infrastructure.
- A financial catastrophe followed the market crash, wiping out years of savings.
From Greek katastrophē meaning 'an overturning, sudden end,' from kata 'down' + strophe 'turning.' The term entered English via Old French catastrophe.
CATastrophe: CAT + A + STROPE (turn). Picture a cat knocking over a vase and causing a dramatic turn of events—an unmistakable disaster.
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Similar Words
Related words and words with the same part of speech.
Debacle
nounA sudden and complete failure or fiasco; a chaotic collapse of a plan or event
Abasement
nounThe act or instance of humiliating or degrading someone; the state of being lowered in dignity or status.
Absurdity
nounThe quality or state of being wildly unreasonable, illogical, or ridiculous; something that is completely contrary to reason or common sense.
Accent
nounA distinctive way of pronouncing words; the act of emphasizing a syllable or word (as a verb, to accent means to emphasize).
Accolade
nounAn honor; a public expression of praise or an award.
Acrimony
nounBitterness of speech or manner; ill feeling