catastrophe

[ kuh-tas-truh-fee ]

/ kəˈtæs trə fi /

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noun

a sudden and widespread disaster: the catastrophe of war.

any misfortune, mishap, or failure; fiasco: The play was so poor our whole evening was a catastrophe.

a final event or conclusion, usually an unfortunate one; a disastrous end: the great catastrophe of the Old South at Appomattox.

(in a drama) the point at which the circumstances overcome the central motive, introducing the close or conclusion; dénouement.Compare catastasis, epitasis, protasis.

Geology. a sudden, violent disturbance, especially of a part of the surface of the earth; cataclysm.

Also called catastrophe function. Mathematics. any of the mathematical functions that describe the discontinuities that are treated in catastrophe theory.

Nearby words

catarrhal inflammation, catarrhine, catastalsis, catastaltic, catastasis, catastrophe, catastrophe theory, catastrophic, catastrophic reaction, catastrophism, catastrophize

Origin of catastrophe

1570–80; < Greek katastrophḗ an overturning, akin to katastréphein to overturn. See cata-, strophe

SYNONYMS FOR catastrophe

1 misfortune, calamity.

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ANTONYMS FOR catastrophe

1, 3 triumph.

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Related forms

cat·a·stroph·ic

[kat-uh-strof-ik] /ˌkæt əˈstrɒf ɪk/, cat·a·stroph·i·cal, ca·tas·tro·phal, adjectivesu·per·ca·tas·tro·phe, noun

Synonym study

1, 3. See disaster.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for catastrophe

But a Western policy that is blind to the urgent need for reform and justice is certain to end in catastrophe.
Why’s Al Qaeda So Strong? Washington Has (Literally) No idea|Bruce Riedel|November 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This is a critical system that leaves you one failure away from catastrophe, as in this case.
Can Anyone Make Space Safe for Civilians?|Clive Irving|November 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
An independent Scotland would be a catastrophe as a country.
Up to a Point: A Free Scotland Would Be a Hilarious Disaster|P. J. O’Rourke|September 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
State officials, military and aviation experts in both countries hurried to shift the blame for the catastrophe.
MH17 Black Box ‘Sent to Moscow for Investigation’|Anna Nemtsova|July 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST

This is, in every conceivable way, a recipe for catastrophe.
Why the Caliphate Will Devour Its Children|Philip Jenkins|July 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Captain Burgoyne was on deck when the catastrophe happened, remaining there as the night grew stormy.
Grace Darling|Eva Hope
She could wait to tell him all about the catastrophe when he returned to Milton.
The Corner House Girls' Odd Find|Grace Brooks Hill
I had never experienced the like before, and I felt sure some catastrophe would happen.
Autobiography of an Electron|Charles R. (Charles Robert) Gibson
Since the catastrophe on board the steamer, he had forgotten Doctor Glyphic.
Idolatry|Julian Hawthorne
It is safe to say that anyone who has once gone through such a catastrophe will have no desire to repeat it.
Bert Wilson, Marathon Winner|J. W. Duffield

British Dictionary definitions for catastrophe

catastrophe

/ (kəˈtæstrəfɪ) /

noun

a sudden, extensive, or notable disaster or misfortune

the denouement of a play, esp a classical tragedy

a final decisive event, usually causing a disastrous end

Also called: cataclysm any sudden and violent change in the earth's surface caused by flooding, earthquake, or some other rapid process

Derived Forms

catastrophic (ˌkætəˈstrɒfɪk), adjectivecatastrophically, adverb

Word Origin for catastrophe

C16: from Greek katastrophē, from katastrephein to overturn, from strephein to turn

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012