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• apocalypse
  apocalypse

  noun
• Apocalypse
  Apocalypse

  noun

  Bible (in the Vulgate and Douay versions of the Bible) the Book of Revelation

apocalypse

American  

[uh-pok-uh-lips] / əˈpɒk ə lɪps /

noun

apocalypses plural

1. 1. a prophecy or revelation, especially regarding a final cataclysmic battle between good and evil.

   2. the apocalypse, in some belief systems, a final cataclysmic battle of this kind, in which evil is defeated and the present age brought to a close.

      According to traditional evangelical teaching, the apocalypse will begin with a time of persecution.

   3. the apocalypse, the end of civilization; the complete destruction or collapse of the world as we know it (sometimes used facetiously).

      On both ends of the political spectrum, visions of the apocalypse and predictions of doom abound.

      We thought this recession might be the apocalypse, and sales would go down to 1 percent.

2. any universal or widespread destruction or disaster.

   If humanity is to avoid a nuclear apocalypse, a whole new level of international cooperation is urgently required.

3. Apocalypse. Revelation.

4. any piece of literature belonging to a genre of Jewish or Christian writings that appeared from about 200 b.c. to the late Middle Ages and were assumed to reveal God’s ultimate purpose.

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apocalypse ¹ British  

/ əˈpɒkəlɪps /

noun

1. a prophetic disclosure or revelation

2. an event of great importance, violence, etc, like the events described in the Apocalypse

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Apocalypse ² British  

/ əˈpɒkəlɪps /

noun

1. Bible (in the Vulgate and Douay versions of the Bible) the Book of Revelation

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Apocalypse Cultural  

1. Another name for the New Testament Book of Revelation; from the Greek word for “revelation.”

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Discover More

An “apocalypse” is a final catastrophe.

The Apocalypse is supposed to come at the end of the world or of time.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• apocalypses
  plural

Etymology

Origin of apocalypse

First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English, from Late Latin apocalypsis, from Greek apokálypsis “revelation,” from apokalýp(tein) “to uncover, reveal” (from apo- apo- + kalýptein “to cover, conceal”; cf. eucalyptus) + -sis -sis

Explanation

Apocalypse is a word that means "the end of the world" — or something so destructive it seems like the world has ended, like the event of a major earthquake. The apocalypse is the total destruction of the world, as prophesied in the Biblical book of Revelation. Apocalypse can be used to describe utter destruction caused by war or natural disaster. The nuclear bomb attack on Hiroshima during World War II can be called an apocalypse because the devastation was so severe and so many lives were lost.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

apocalypse Apocalypse apocalypses

At its most extreme and troubling end, some believe they must stop an AI apocalypse by any means necessary.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 12, 2026

The apocalypse brothers remained unmoved as the game raged into the second half, Egypt retreating further as Mohamed Salah departed.

From BBC ● Jun. 27, 2026

Before the latest peace agreement with Iran, there had been talk of an oil apocalypse, with some forecasts calling for prices of $150 a barrel or more.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 18, 2026

Lestat is slightly bored with existing yet curious to see whether his music, primarily plied on the Internet, can reach enough undead followers to hasten the vampire apocalypse known as The Great Conversion.

From Salon ● Jun. 13, 2026

It spiked in shafts through the apocalypse of smoke and dust as the citadel’s new center of gravity readjusted to the three remaining supports.

From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor

This is either the future or the Apocalypse has arrived.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 31, 2026

Her acting breakthrough came on the TV show The Newsroom, before starring roles in movies such as X-Men: Apocalypse and The Predator.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 6, 2026

Angel Nail Salon, just 10 minutes from Apocalypse BBQ, offers hair and nail services at a great price point, making it an ideal stop for manicures, pedicures, or even a blowout before a night out.

From Salon ● Feb. 2, 2026

I’m in development hell, but if Coppola could fight for a decade to make Apocalypse Now, I can stand by Endier Game for another half-hour.

From Barron's ● Dec. 12, 2025

In the two weeks since Camp Apocalypse had ended, I’d spent a lot of time hanging out with them.

From "Klawde: Evil Alien Warlord Cat" by Johnny Marciano and Emily Chenoweth

But, far more often, I found that apocalypses brought out people’s creativity and determination.

From Slate ● May 14, 2025

"America is an infant," a French survivor says, "but here, we survived many apocalypses."

From Salon ● Sep. 10, 2023

The game has no guns, no Marios, no apocalypses.

From Seattle Times ● Jul. 13, 2023

They weave climate apocalypses, time travel and virtual reality with Yoruba mythology, Amazonian deforestation and ayahuasca-inspired psychedelic plants.

From New York Times ● Jun. 10, 2023

To this literature belong essentially the apocalypses which were published in fast succession from Daniel onwards.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 2 "Anjar" to "Apollo" by Various

Related Words

• annihilation
• cataclysm
• catastrophe
• devastation