catastrophe
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catastrophe
- /kəˈtæstɹəfi/ US, UK
Rhymes with -æstɹəfi
Where it comes from
From Ancient Greek καταστροφή (katastrophḗ), from καταστρέφω (katastréphō, “to overturn”), from κατά (katá, “down, against”) + στρέφω (stréphō, “to turn”).
noun catastrophes · catastrophë
- Any large and disastrous event of great significance. The Chernobyl disaster was a catastrophe.
- A disaster beyond expectations.
- The dramatic event that initiates the resolution of the plot; the dénouement. Pat : he comes like the Cataſtrophe of the old Comedie : my Cue is villanous Melancholly, with a ſighe like Tom o’ Bedlam.
- A type of bifurcation, where a system shifts between two stable states.
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: disaster, cataclysm, calamity, tragedy, devastation, havoc, destruction, setback, damage, ruin, wreck, scourge, suffering, plight, accident, peril
Translations
Every language
noun any large and disastrous event of great significance
| Español | catástrofe |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 재난 jaenan, 재앙 jaeang, 재해 jaehae |
| 日本語 | 大災害 daisaigai, 災難 sainan, 災害 saigai, 災殃 saiō |
| 中文 | 災難 /灾难 zāinàn, 災殃 /灾殃 zāiyāng, 災害 /灾害 zāihài, 災禍 /灾祸 zāihuò |
| हिन्दी | तबाही tabāhī, आपदा āpdā, आफ़त āfat, मुसीबत musībat |
| Português | catástrofe |
| Français | catastrophe |
| Deutsch | Katastrophe, Unglück, Unheil |
| Italiano | catastrofe |
| Ελληνικά | καταστροφή katastrofí, όλεθρος ólethros |
| Română | catastrofă, dezastru |
| Русский | катастро́фа katastrófa, бе́дствие bédstvije |
| Tiếng Việt | tai ương, tai họa lớn, thảm hoạ |
| العربية | كَارِثَة kāriṯa, فَاجِعَة fājiʕa, مُصِيبَة muṣība, آفَة ʔāfa |
| עברית | קָטַסְטְרוֹפָה katastrófa, אָסוֹן asón |
noun disaster beyond expectations
| 中文 | 災難 /灾难 zāinàn |
|---|---|
| Português | catástrofe |
| Deutsch | Katastrophe |
| Italiano | catastrofe |
| Ελληνικά | καταστροφή katastrofí |
| Română | catastrofă |
| Русский | катастро́фа katastrófa |
| Tiếng Việt | thảm họa |
| العربية | نَكْبَة nakba, فَاجِعَة fājiʕa |
noun Ancient Greek tragedies: the solution of the plot
| Español | catástrofe |
|---|---|
| Deutsch | Katastrophe |
| Italiano | catastrofe |
| Ελληνικά | έκβαση ékvasi |
| Română | deznodământ |
noun mathematics: type of bifurcation
| Italiano | catastrofe |
|---|
Talk about this word "catastrophe." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/catastrophe. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. catastrophe. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/catastrophe "catastrophe." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/catastrophe.Cite this
@misc{catastrophe_2026,
title = {catastrophe},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/catastrophe},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
