catastrophe

Pronunciation

• IPA ^(key): /kə'tæstrəfi/

• Audio (US)

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Noun

Singular catastrophe

Plural catastrophes

1. (countable) A catastrophe is a violent, sudden and unlucky change, which makes very big problems.

   The Great Fire destroyed the city completely. This was a catastrophe.

   His wife left him for another man. This was his personal catastrophe.

Related words

• catastrophic