calamity

[kuh-lam-i-tee]

noun

plural

calamities 

1. a great misfortune or disaster, as a flood or serious injury.

   Synonyms: mishap, mischance, cataclysm, catastrophe, blow, reverse

2. grievous affliction; adversity; misery.

   the calamity of war.

calamity

/ kəˈlæmɪtɪ /

noun

1. a disaster or misfortune, esp one causing extreme havoc, distress, or misery

2. a state or feeling of deep distress or misery

Word History and Origins

Origin of calamity¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English calamite, from Middle French, from Latin calamitāt-, stem of calamitās (also kadamitas ) “crop failure, disaster,” of disputed origin; often considered to be derived from calam(us) “cane, reed” + -itās -ity ( def. ), but perhaps instead akin to columus “safe,” incolumitās “safety”

Word History and Origins

Origin of calamity¹

C15: from French calamité, from Latin calamitās; related to Latin incolumis uninjured

Synonym Study

See disaster.

Example Sentences

If that was a defensive mishap, the second goal was a defensive calamity.

From BBC

The province of Cebu, which suffered the brunt of the damage, declared a state of calamity early on Wednesday, after thousands spent the night on the streets amid repeated aftershocks.

From BBC

Even her wedding to former Swedish player Lucas Nilsson last January was a moment of celebration amid calamity.

From Los Angeles Times

I can sign every petition and read every email from organizations I admire and others I’ve never heard of, each proclaiming calamities scarier than the last one — and then, of course, asking for a donation.

From Salon

But as they flopped, the unit as a whole suffered one calamity after another.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• adversity 
• cataclysm 
• catastrophe 
• collapse 
• hardship 
• misfortune 
• mishap 
• scourge 
• woe