catastrophic
Americanadjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of catastrophic
First recorded in 1820–30; from Greek katastrophikós, equivalent to catastroph(e) ( def. ) + -ic ( def. )
Explanation
Something catastrophic is very harmful or disastrous. When the stock market crashes, it’s a catastrophic event for investors. This is a strong word for terrible, harmful, devastating things. Tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, and tsunamis are catastrophic weather events. A depression is catastrophic for the economy. In sports, if the star player is injured, that's catastrophic for the team. If a parent dies, that's catastrophic for a family. Scientists worry that climate change will have a catastrophic effect on the planet. Catastrophic events are severe and horrific. Stubbing your toe isn’t catastrophic: losing your leg in an accident is.
Vocabulary lists containing catastrophic
Break It Down: Cata
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Vocabulary from the Second Presidential Debate: October 9, 2016
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Life As We Knew It
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Catastrophic flooding has swept through Washington, prompting tens of thousands to evacuate after a storm dropped more than a foot of rain on parts of the western portion of the state.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 12, 2025
The tax bill expands eligibility to people who use independent insurance through the Affordable Care Act, or ACA, and opt for either the Bronze or Catastrophic level of coverage.
From Barron's • Nov. 25, 2025
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law in July, reclassified Bronze and Catastrophic ACA plans as high-deductible plans, making them eligible for an HSA in 2026.
From MarketWatch • Oct. 30, 2025
"Catastrophic", "disastrous", "damaging" is how some global public health experts are describing it.
From BBC • Jan. 21, 2025
That’s a long list of potential damages, even for the Catastrophic Concerns Department.
From "Merci Suárez Changes Gears" by Meg Medina
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
