apocalypse

noun

apoc·​a·​lypse ə-ˈpä-kə-ˌlips How to pronounce apocalypse (audio)
plural apocalypses
1
a
: one of the Jewish and Christian writings of 200 b.c. to a.d. 150 marked by pseudonymity, symbolic imagery, and the expectation of an imminent cosmic cataclysm in which God destroys the ruling powers of evil and raises the righteous to life in a messianic kingdom
b
capitalized : revelation sense 3
2
a
: something viewed as a prophetic revelation
3
a
: a large, disastrous fire : inferno
Most foresters agree that small, "prescribed" burns, carefully controlled, are essential to prevent the larger apocalypse.Lance Morrow
b
: a great disaster
an environmental apocalypse

Examples of apocalypse in a Sentence

His book tells of an environmental apocalypse. the fear that the next global pandemic could be an apocalypse of biblical proportions
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Believe it or not, the zombie apocalypse has reached the MCU. Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Sep. 2025 There's more to come, too, from a classic 1980s Disney flick coming to streaming for the first time to the zombie apocalypse seen through an LGBTQ lens. Brian Truitt, USA Today, 25 Sep. 2025 Many had been posting videos to TikTok about what people should expect when the Rapture occurs, namely that Jesus will take true believers to heaven as Earth enters an apocalypse. Dalila Muata, NBC news, 24 Sep. 2025 The Last Family on Earth is a family drama that plays out against the backdrop of a global apocalypse. Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 19 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for apocalypse

Word History

Etymology

Middle English Apocalipse "Revelation (the New Testament book)," borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Late Latin apocalypsis "revelation, the Book of Revelation," borrowed from Greek apokálypsis "uncovering, disclosure, revelation," from apokalyp-, stem of apokalýptein "to uncover, disclose, reveal" (from apo- apo- + kalýptein "to cover, protect, conceal," of uncertain origin) + -sis -sis

Note: Greek kalýptein is associated in older handbooks with Indo-European *ḱel- "conceal" (see conceal), though neither the vocalism nor the supposed extension *-up- are easily explicable.

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of apocalypse was before the 12th century

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Cite this Entry

“Apocalypse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/apocalypse. Accessed 30 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

apocalypse

1 of 2 noun
apoc·​a·​lypse
ə-ˈpä-kə-ˌlips
1
: something thought of as a prophetic revelation
2
a
: the place or time of the final battle between good and evil
b
: a decisive battle
3
: a great disaster
apocalyptic
ə-ˌpä-kə-ˈlip-tik
adjective

Apocalypse

2 of 2 noun
: one of the Jewish and Christian writings of 200 b.c. to a.d. 150 by an author writing under a pseudonym that is marked by symbolic imagery and the expectation of an imminent cosmic cataclysm in which God destroys the ruling powers of evil and raises the righteous to life in a heavenly kingdom see bible

More from Merriam-Webster on apocalypse

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