Main Entry:

di·sas·ter

Pronunciation:

\di-ˈzas-tər, -ˈsas-\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle French & Old Italian; Middle French desastre, from Old Italian disastro, from dis- (from Latin) + astro star, from Latin astrum — more at astral

Date:

1568

1obsolete : an unfavorable aspect of a planet or star2: a sudden calamitous event bringing great damage, loss, or destruction ; broadly : a sudden or great misfortune or failure <the party was a disaster>