catastrophic
/kætəˈstɹɒfɪk/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
Of or pertaining to a catastrophe.
Adjective
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
Disastrous; ruinous.
Adjective
Examples
The reason why Jon & Kate Plus 8 is such a hot topic is because it might all be a sham. It’s been claimed that Jon has a string of mistresses, that Kate had an affair with her bodyguard and that Baby Number Six is actually a shaved Ewok with a catastrophic heroin addiction. Or something.
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).
Common questions
What does “catastrophic” mean?
Of or pertaining to a catastrophe.
Is “catastrophic” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.