Just as disaster can range from a calamitous event to one that is merely unsuccessful, catastrophe can refer to what is truly devastating as well as to what is simply deeply disheartening.

Iron catastrophe, runaway melting of early Earth's interior as a result of potential energy release from sinking iron and nickel melted by heat of radioactive decay

CATASTROPHE meaning: 1. a sudden event that causes very great trouble or destruction: 2. a bad situation: 3. a sudden…. Learn more.

catastrophe (kəˈtæstrəfɪ) n 1. a sudden, extensive, or notable disaster or misfortune

Definition of catastrophe noun in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

A catastrophe is an unexpected event that causes great suffering or damage. From all points of view, war would be a catastrophe.

ca•tas•tro•phe /kəˈtæstrəfi/ n. [countable] a sudden and widespread disaster: The flood was a major catastrophe that killed thousands. a great misfortune or failure; fiasco: Losing his job was a …

Jan 20, 2026 · Noun catastrophe (countable and uncountable, plural catastrophes) Any large and disastrous event of great significance. The Chernobyl disaster was a catastrophe.

CATASTROPHE definition: a sudden and widespread disaster. See examples of catastrophe used in a sentence.

Catastrophe definition: A great, often sudden calamity.