natural disaster

American

[nach-er-uhl-di-zas-ter] / ˈnætʃ ər əl dɪˈzæs tər /

noun

a sudden, severe event in nature, such as a flood, earthquake, wildfire, etc., especially one that causes widespread damage and harm.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Because, for veterans of modern warfare, the question isn’t how to come to grips with something that befell us in the manner of a natural disaster.

From Slate • Mar. 16, 2026

The United States grants TPS to people deemed to be in danger if they return to their home countries because of war, natural disaster or other "extraordinary" circumstances.

From Barron's • Mar. 5, 2026

Money for home repairs would generally need to be for a FEMA-declared natural disaster.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 4, 2026

The stories in Lauren Groff’s third collection, “Brawler,” largely feature people who’ve hit crisis points in their lives: the abusive partner, the natural disaster, the relapse, the deathbed.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 26, 2026

We can lead a full life and never personally encounter a natural disaster more violent than a storm.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023