A catastrophe is an unexpected event that causes great suffering or damage.
From all points of view, war would be a catastrophe.
...the economic and environmental catastrophe that the oil leak has caused.
Synonyms: disaster, tragedy, calamity, meltdown [informal] More Synonyms of catastrophe
catastrophe in British English
(kəˈtæstrəfɪ)
noun
1.
a sudden, extensive, or notable disaster or misfortune
2.
the denouement of a play, esp a classical tragedy
3.
a final decisive event, usually causing a disastrous end
4. Also called: cataclysm
any sudden and violent change in the earth's surface caused by flooding, earthquake, or some other rapid process
Derived forms
catastrophic (ˌkætəˈstrɒfɪk)
adjective
catastrophically (ˌcataˈstrophically)
adverb
Word origin
C16: from Greek katastrophē, from katastrephein to overturn, from strephein to turn
catastrophe in American English
(kəˈtæstrəfi)
noun
1.
the culminating event of a drama, esp. of a tragedy, by which the plot is resolved; denouement
2.
a disastrous end, bringing overthrow or ruin
3.
any great and sudden calamity, disaster, or misfortune
4.
a total or ignominious failure
5. Geology
a sudden, violent change, such as an earthquake
SIMILAR WORDS: disˈaster
Derived forms
catastrophic (ˌcataˈstrophic) (ˌkætəˈstrɑfɪk)
adjective
catastrophically (ˌcataˈstrophically)
adverb
Word origin
L catastropha < Gr katastrophē, an overthrowing < katastrephein, to overturn < kata-, down + strephein, to turn: see strophe
COBUILD Collocations
catastrophe
environmental catastrophe
humanitarian catastrophe
Examples of 'catastrophe' in a sentence
catastrophe
They must move fast before winter turns a disaster into a catastrophe.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
You genuinely want to think about how to avoid catastrophe?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We thrive on ice ages and environmental catastrophes.
Dyson, Freeman Infinite in All Directions (1989)
Otherwise we face ecological catastrophe and the world will turn into grey goo.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Will it find the courage for necessary change before catastrophe prevails?
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
We all need them to avoid catastrophes of various kinds.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
This is what an environmental catastrophe looks like.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
But his computing system warned that a world catastrophe loomed and that the dollar would cease trading.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
They both deal with risk while hoping to avoid catastrophe.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
This is an environmental catastrophe going on around us.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Sometimes catastrophes were only avoided by sheer luck.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
On his shoulders has rested responsibility for avoiding financial catastrophe.
The Sun (2010)
It has been the financial catastrophe to end all catastrophes and the final bill is not yet in.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Does it not realise that it is making environmental catastrophes more likely with this kind of dubious affiliation?
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
And ministers now want him to take a more direct role in fighting environmental catastrophe on the world stage.
The Sun (2009)
The task in this case is to save the future world from any catastrophes with their origins in the present.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
It is impossible for me to look at a cotton field now without seeing the environmental catastrophe that it often represents.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
There hadn't been any great catastrophe at home, she says.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
If Labour loses, it would be a political earthquake and a catastrophe for the party.
The Sun (2015)
Everything was heading towards this disaster, this catastrophe, really.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
In other languages
catastrophe
British English: catastrophe /kəˈtæstrəfɪ/ NOUN
A catastrophe is an unexpected event that causes great suffering or damage.
From our point of view, war would be a catastrophe.
American English: catastrophe
Arabic: نَكْبَة
Brazilian Portuguese: catástrofe
Chinese: 大灾难
Croatian: katastrofa
Czech: katastrofa
Danish: katastrofe
Dutch: catastrofe
European Spanish: catástrofe
Finnish: katastrofi
French: catastrophe
German: Katastrophe
Greek: καταστροφή
Italian: catastrofe
Japanese: 大災害
Korean: 대참사
Norwegian: katastrofe
Polish: katastrofa
European Portuguese: catástrofe
Romanian: catastrofă
Russian: катастрофа
Latin American Spanish: catástrofe
Swedish: katastrof
Thai: ความหายนะ
Turkish: felaket doğal afet
Ukrainian: катастрофа
Vietnamese: tai họa
All related terms of 'catastrophe'
catastrophe theory
a mathematical theory that classifies surfaces according to their form
natural catastrophe
A natural catastrophe is an unexpected event, caused by nature, such as an earthquake or flood , in which there is a lot of suffering , damage, or death.
environmental catastrophe
A catastrophe is an unexpected event that causes great suffering or damage.
humanitarian catastrophe
A catastrophe is an unexpected event that causes great suffering or damage.
ecocatastrophe
a disaster caused by the behaviour of humankind that has great detrimental impact on the environment
catastrophe excess of loss
Catastrophe excess of loss is a form of excess of loss reinsurance where the reinsurer agrees to reimburse the amount of a very large loss in excess of a particular sum .
Chinese translation of 'catastrophe'
catastrophe
(kəˈtæstrəfɪ)
n(c)
大灾(災)难(難) (dàzāinàn) (场(場), chǎng)
(noun)
Definition
a great and sudden disaster or misfortune
The world is heading towards an environmental catastrophe.
Synonyms
disaster
the second air disaster in less than two months
tragedy
They have suffered an enormous personal tragedy.
calamity
This course of action could only end in calamity.
meltdown (informal)
cataclysm
the cataclysm that was overwhelming Europe before the Second World War
trouble
She tells me her troubles. I tell her mine.
trial
the trials of adolescence
blow
The ruling comes as a blow to environmentalists.
failure
The marriage was a failure and they both wanted to be free of it.
reverse
They have suffered a major reverse.
misfortune
He had had his full share of misfortunes.
devastation
adversity
He showed courage in adversity.
mishap
After a number of mishaps she finally managed to get back home.
affliction
Hay fever is an affliction that arrives at an early age.
whammy (informal)
bummer (slang)
mischance
By some mischance, she injured her knee again.
fiasco
The party was a bit of a fiasco.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of adversity
Definition
very difficult or hard circumstances
He showed courage in adversity.
Synonyms
hardship,
trouble,
distress,
suffering,
trial,
disaster,
reverse,
misery,
hard times,
catastrophe,
sorrow,
woe,
misfortune,
bad luck,
deep water,
calamity,
mishap,
affliction,
wretchedness,
ill-fortune,
ill-luck
in the sense of affliction
Definition
something that causes physical or mental suffering
Hay fever is an affliction that arrives at an early age.