catastrophe

 
Pronunciation: /kəˈtastrəfi/

noun

  • 1an event causing great and usually sudden damage or suffering; a disaster: an environmental catastrophe [mass noun]: inaction will only bring us closer to catastrophe
  • something very unfortunate or unsuccessful: the tax would be a catastrophe for the industry
  • 2the denouement of a drama, especially a classical tragedy.

Origin:

mid 16th century (in the sense 'denouement'): from Latin catastropha, from Greek katastrophē 'overturning, sudden turn', from kata- 'down' + strophē 'turning' (from strephein 'to turn')

Spelling help

Remember that the end of catastrophe is spelled -ophe.