- pronunciation:
- k
tae
str
fi
- features:
- Word History, Word Explorer, Word Parts
| part of speech: |
noun |
| definition: |
an event that brings great harm, suffering, or loss to a large area or many people; terrible disaster.
The earthquake was a catastrophe that destroyed the whole city.- synonyms:
- calamity, disaster
- similar words:
- ruin, tragedy
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| related words: |
blow, collapse, misfortune |
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| derivations: |
catastrophic (adj.), catastrophically (adv.) |
Catastrophe is from a Greek word that means "overturning" or complete change. It referred to the ending of a play, or the outcome of certain events. The ending could be either happy or tragic. "Catastrophe" is now mostly used for a tragic event.