Subscriber login


Forgot your password?

Library card login

Other

catastrophe

Pronunciation: /kəˈtastrəfi/
Translate catastrophe | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of catastrophe

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.

catastrophe in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of catastrophe in the US English dictionary

Nearby words

  |  Cite
Oxford Dictionaries Pro

For Oxford's best resources for writers, plus thesaurus, audio, and 1.9m examples.

GET PRO ►

Shop for an Oxford dictionary
Find the perfect Oxford dictionary for you in our online shop.
SHOP NOW ►

Word of the day

logomachy

/ ləˈgɒməki /
noun
an argument about words …