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disaster
/dɪˈzæs.tər/
a sudden event causing great damage or distress
The earthquake was a disaster for the coastal town.
The earthquake caused severe destruction and suffering in the town.
general
a sudden event causing great damage, destruction, or distress
The hurricane was a natural disaster that left thousands homeless.
The hurricane caused widespread destruction and displaced many people.
His business venture turned into a financial disaster.
His business failed and caused significant financial loss.
The term can refer to natural disasters (earthquakes, hurricanes) or man-made disasters (accidents, financial collapses).
Collocations
natural disastera disaster caused by natural forcesfinancial disastera severe financial loss or failurehumanitarian disastera situation causing widespread suffering
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Metaphorical Use
The word can be used metaphorically to describe personal or financial failures, not just natural events.
Gold Rule
Context Matters
Ensure the context is appropriate when using 'disaster' metaphorically to avoid sounding overly dramatic.
Word Origin
From Middle French 'desastre', from Italian 'disastro', from Greek 'dis-aster' (bad star), from 'dis-' (bad) + 'aster' (star). Originally referred to an unfavorable astrological influence.
Usage Notes
The word is often used to describe events with severe negative consequences, whether natural or man-made. It can also be used metaphorically to describe personal failures or setbacks.
Word Breakdown
dis-
bad, not
prefix-aster
star
rootEnglish Dictionary