catastrophe
/kəˈtæstɹəfi/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Also seen as: catastrophes
Sense 1
Meaning · English
Any large and disastrous event of great significance.
Noun
Examples
The Chernobyl disaster was a catastrophe.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
A disaster beyond expectations.
Noun
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “catastrophe” mean?
Any large and disastrous event of great significance.
Is “catastrophe” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.