catastrophe

noun

ca·​tas·​tro·​phe kə-ˈta-strə-(ˌ)fē 

plural catastrophes

1

: a momentous tragic event ranging from extreme misfortune to utter overthrow or ruin

Deforestation and erosion can lead to an ecological catastrophe.

2

: utter failure : fiasco

the party was a catastrophe

3

a

: a violent and sudden change in a feature of the earth

b

: a violent usually destructive natural event (such as a supernova)

4

: the final event of the dramatic action especially of a tragedy

catastrophic

ˌka-tə-ˈsträ-fik 

adjective

catastrophically

ˌka-tə-ˈsträ-fi-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Did you know?

When catastrophe was borrowed from Greek in the 1500s it was a term for tearjerkers: the catastrophe was the conclusion or final event of a usually tragic dramatic work. (Greek katastrophē, which means the same thing, comes from katastrephein, meaning "to overturn.") From there, the word moved on to occupy other territory relating to tragic happenings, utter failures, and the worst sort of natural disasters. Just as disaster can range from a calamitous event to one that is merely unsuccessful, catastrophe can refer to what is truly devastating as well as to what is simply deeply disheartening. In Henry IV, Part 2, Shakespeare opted to steer the word away from disaster entirely and plant it squarely in the world of burlesque: "You scullion! You rampallian! You fustilarian! I'll tickle your catastrophe!" May all our catastrophes be of such a comic variety.

Synonyms of catastrophe

• disaster
• tragedy
• apocalypse
• calamity

Examples of catastrophe in a Sentence

The oil spill was an environmental catastrophe.

Experts fear a humanitarian catastrophe if food isn't delivered to the refugees soon.

an area on the brink of catastrophe

Recent Examples on the Web

Israeli leaders have said little about the unprecedented death toll in Gaza, the humanitarian catastrophe and the lack of reconstruction. — Arkansas Online, 8 Oct. 2026

Archaeologists and historians tell their stories from the ambition and ingenuity that made them, to the conflict and catastrophe that transformed them into the ruins of today. — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026

Oliver Reed plays Grandier; Vanessa Redgrave is Sister Jeanne, the head nun whose fixation on him helps fuel the catastrophe. — Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2026

Attempts to harness rivers and rain There are plans to help alleviate Kabul’s impending catastrophe by harnessing surface water. — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Greek katastrophē, from katastrephein to overturn, from kata- + strephein to turn

First Known Use

1540, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Phrases Containing catastrophe

• catastrophe theory

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Kids Definition

catastrophe

noun

ca·​tas·​tro·​phe kə-ˈtas-trə-(ˌ)fē 

1

: a sudden disaster

2

: complete failure : fiasco

catastrophic

ˌkat-ə-ˈsträf-ik 

adjective

catastrophically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Medical Definition

catastrophe

noun

ca·​tas·​tro·​phe kə-ˈtas-trə-fē 

: death (as from an inexplicable cause) before, during, or after an operation