catastrophist


ca·tas·tro·phism

C0156200 (kə-tăs′trə-fĭz′əm)n.1. a. The doctrine that major changes in the earth's crust result from sudden catastrophes, such as the impact of a large meteor, rather than from gradual evolutionary processes.b. The doctrine that changes in the earth's fauna and flora result from major catastrophic events that cause the die-off of many organisms and are followed by the appearance of new types of organisms.2. The prediction or expectation of cataclysmic upheaval, as in political or social developments.
ca·tas′tro·phist n.