Armageddon

American  

[ahr-muh-ged-n] / ˌɑr məˈgɛd n /

noun

1. (in the Bible) the place where a final battle will be fought between the forces of good and evil: probably so called in reference to the battlefield of Megiddo.

2. the last and completely destructive battle.

   The arms race can lead to Armageddon.

3. any great and crucial conflict.

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Armageddon British  

/ ˌɑːməˈɡɛdən /

noun

1. New Testament the final battle at the end of the world between the forces of good and evil, God against the kings of the earth (Revelation 16:16)

2. a catastrophic and extremely destructive conflict, esp World War I viewed as this

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Armageddon Cultural  

1. In the Book of Revelation, the site of the final and conclusive battle between good and evil, involving “the kings of the Earth and the whole world,” on the “great day of God Almighty.”

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Figuratively, “Armageddon” is any great battle or destructive confrontation.

Etymology

Origin of Armageddon

First recorded in 1580–90; Middle English Hermagedon, Old English Ermagedon, from Late Latin Hermagedōn, Armagedōn, from Greek Harmagedṓn, from Hebrew har măgiddō (măgiddōn) “mountain of Megiddo”; Megiddo ( def. )

Example Sentences

The Armageddon of employment is probably overstated in terms of speed.

From Barron's

"It depends if they're preparing for the end of the world or Armageddon or they're preparing just basically for a barrage of missile fires as mostly the Israelis have," Hubbard said.

From Barron's

Near the town of Interior: Parts of Badlands National Park depict the surface of an asteroid in “Armageddon,” starring Bruce Willis.

From The Wall Street Journal

The press is warning of nuclear Armageddon after an arms-control treaty between Russia and the United States expired this week.

From The Wall Street Journal

With that decision, the key to Armageddon’s door remained firmly in the president’s pocket—as it has, more or less, ever since.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• annihilation
• cataclysm
• catastrophe
• devastation