apocalypse

American  

[uh-pok-uh-lips] / əˈpɒk ə lɪps /

noun

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.

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”; eucalyptus ) + -sis -sis

Example Sentences

At the movies, the apocalypse tends to seem awfully exciting.

From The Wall Street Journal

Italian football journalist James Horncastle said: "It was called apocalyptic the first time they missed out. I don't know what stage of the apocalypse we are in now."

From BBC

And, I promise, if the apocalypse actually comes, you can still beep me.”

From Salon

The prevailing wisdom, according to Mr. Hazzard, was: “You don’t bring the zombie apocalypse to a place that doesn’t have the zombies.”

From The Wall Street Journal

When I set out to explore the world of prepping, I was unsure of what to expect - part of me imagined something theatrical, such as zombie apocalypse kits or nuclear bunkers.

From BBC

Related Words

• annihilation
• cataclysm
• catastrophe
• devastation