disaster

[dih-zas-ter, -zah-ster]

noun

1. a calamitous event, especially one occurring suddenly and causing great loss of life, damage, or hardship, as a flood, airplane crash, or business failure.

   Synonyms: affliction, adversity, reverse, blow, accident, mishap, misadventure, misfortune, mischance

2. Obsolete.,  an unfavorable aspect of a star or planet.

disaster

/ dɪˈzɑːstə /

noun

1. an occurrence that causes great distress or destruction

2. a thing, project, etc, that fails or has been ruined

Other Word Forms

• predisaster noun
• disastrous adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of disaster¹

First recorded in 1585–95; from Middle French desastre, from Italian disastro, from dis- dis- ¹ + astro “star” (from Latin astrum, from Greek ástron )

Word History and Origins

Origin of disaster¹

C16 (originally in the sense: malevolent astral influence): from Italian disastro, from dis- (pejorative) + astro star, from Latin astrum, from Greek astron

Synonym Study

Disaster, calamity, catastrophe, cataclysm refer to adverse happenings often occurring suddenly and unexpectedly. A disaster may be caused by carelessness, negligence, bad judgment, or the like, or by natural forces, as a hurricane or flood: a railroad disaster. Calamity suggests great affliction, either personal or general; the emphasis is on the grief or sorrow caused: the calamity of losing a child. Catastrophe refers especially to the tragic outcome of a personal or public situation; the emphasis is on the destruction or irreplaceable loss: the catastrophe of a defeat in battle. Cataclysm, physically an earth-shaking change, refers to a personal or public upheaval of unparalleled violence: a cataclysm that turned his life in a new direction.

Example Sentences

In its own statement to The Times, ECC said it followed the directives and oversight of state and federal agencies at all times, and “is proud of its work helping communities recover from devastating disasters.”

From Los Angeles Times

He would understand that creating a pretext for war leads to disaster.

From Salon

It has warned of an imminent "disaster" if the assault proceeds.

From BBC

Mr Lanino said teams on location believe the landslide to be "one of the most tragic and large-scale disasters in the region's history".

From BBC

The TPS program was established by Congress in 1990 to give temporary protections for migrants from countries experiencing war and natural disasters.

From BBC

Related Words

• calamity 
• catastrophe 
• collapse 
• crash 
• debacle 
• defeat 
• emergency 
• failure 
• fiasco 
• flood 
• harm 
• hazard 
• holocaust 
• mishap 
• setback 
• tragedy 
• woe