Definition of CATASTROPHES (original) (raw)
1
: a momentous tragic event ranging from extreme misfortune to utter overthrow or ruin
Deforestation and erosion can lead to an ecological catastrophe.
2
: utter failure : fiasco
the party was a catastrophe
3
a
: a violent and sudden change in a feature of the earth
b
: a violent usually destructive natural event (such as a supernova)
4
: the final event of the dramatic action especially of a tragedy
Did you know?
When catastrophe was borrowed from Greek in the 1500s it was a term for tearjerkers: the catastrophe was the conclusion or final event of a usually tragic dramatic work. (Greek katastrophē, which means the same thing, comes from katastrephein, meaning "to overturn.") From there, the word moved on to occupy other territory relating to tragic happenings, utter failures, and the worst sort of natural disasters. Just as disaster can range from a calamitous event to one that is merely unsuccessful, catastrophe can refer to what is truly devastating as well as to what is simply deeply disheartening. In Henry IV, Part 2, Shakespeare opted to steer the word away from disaster entirely and plant it squarely in the world of burlesque: "You scullion! You rampallian! You fustilarian! I'll tickle your catastrophe!" May all our catastrophes be of such a comic variety.
Synonyms
Examples of catastrophe in a Sentence
The oil spill was an environmental catastrophe. Experts fear a humanitarian catastrophe if food isn't delivered to the refugees soon. an area on the brink of catastrophe
Word History
Etymology
Greek katastrophē, from katastrephein to overturn, from kata- + strephein to turn
First Known Use
1540, in the meaning defined at sense 4
Time Traveler
The first known use of catastrophe was in 1540
Dictionary Entries Near catastrophe
Cite this Entry
“Catastrophe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/catastrophe. Accessed 12 Feb. 2025.
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