catastrophe

[kuh-tas-truh-fee]

noun

1. a sudden and widespread disaster.

   the catastrophe of war.

   Synonyms: calamity, misfortune
   Antonyms: triumph

2. any misfortune, mishap, or failure; fiasco.

   The play was so poor our whole evening was a catastrophe.

3. a final event or conclusion, usually an unfortunate one; a disastrous end.

   the great catastrophe of the Old South at Appomattox.

   Antonyms: triumph

4. (in a drama) the point at which the circumstances overcome the central motive, introducing the close or conclusion; dénouement.

5. Geology.,  a sudden, violent disturbance, especially of a part of the surface of the earth; cataclysm.

6. Also called catastrophe function. Mathematics.,  any of the mathematical functions that describe the discontinuities that are treated in catastrophe theory.

catastrophe

/ kəˈtæstrəfɪ, ˌkætəˈstrɒfɪk /

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

Other Word Forms

• catastrophic adjective
• catastrophical adjective
• catastrophal adjective
• supercatastrophe noun
• catastrophically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of catastrophe¹

First recorded in 1570–80; from Greek katastrophḗ “an overturning,” from katastréphein “to overturn”; equivalent to cata- + strophe

Word History and Origins

Origin of catastrophe¹

C16: from Greek katastrophē, from katastrephein to overturn, from strephein to turn

Synonym Study

See disaster.

Example Sentences

The aim was to "to prevent not only another national catastrophe like Hurricane Katrina, but the effective dissolution of Fema itself", the document said.

From BBC

On Aug. 18, health officials declared the West Texas outbreak over, but the consequences of the catastrophe will be lasting.

From Salon

He says he is more "relaxed" than many winemakers would be about such a catastrophe, because he has long made a non-vintage red blend called Cain Cuvée.

From BBC

When the country is in chaos and entangled in man-made catastrophes abroad, it’s easier to rail, risk-free, against a manufactured crisis.

From Los Angeles Times

Meanwhile the UK's Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: "The Israeli government's refusal to allow sufficient aid into Gaza has caused this man-made catastrophe. This is a moral outrage."

From BBC

Related Words

• accident 
• adversity 
• calamity 
• casualty 
• cataclysm 
• crash 
• debacle 
• devastation 
• disaster 
• emergency 
• failure 
• fiasco 
• hardship 
• meltdown 
• misery 
• mishap 
• tragedy 
• trouble 
• wreck