Armageddon

[ ahr-muh-ged-n ]

noun

1. (in the Bible) the place where a final battle will be fought between the forces of good and evil: probably so called in reference to the battlefield of Megiddo.
2. the last and completely destructive battle:

   The arms race can lead to Armageddon.

3. any great and crucial conflict.

Armageddon

/ ˌɑːməˈɡɛdən /

noun

1. New Testament the final battle at the end of the world between the forces of good and evil, God against the kings of the earth (Revelation 16:16)
2. a catastrophic and extremely destructive conflict, esp World War I viewed as this

Armageddon

1. In the Book of Revelation , the site of the final and conclusive battle between good and evil, involving “the kings of the Earth and the whole world,” on the “great day of God Almighty.”

Notes

Figuratively, “Armageddon” is any great battle or destructive confrontation.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Armageddon¹

First recorded in 1580–90; Middle English Hermagedon, Old English Ermagedon, from Late Latin Hermagedōn, Armagedōn, from Greek Harmagedṓn, from Hebrew har măgiddō (măgiddōn) “mountain of Megiddo”; Megiddo ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of Armageddon¹

C19: from Late Latin Armagedōn, from Greek, from Hebrew har megiddōn, mountain district of Megiddo, in N Palestine, site of various battles in the Old Testament

Example Sentences

He threatened "Biblical Armageddon" if the UN declared famine.

From BBC

“Not every novelist can make the transition to screenwriter,” says Salerno, whose writing credits include “Avatar: The Way of Water,” “Armageddon” and “Savages” and three upcoming “Avatar” sequels.

From Los Angeles Times

Now the group is preparing to release their debut full-length studio album, “Armageddon.”

From Seattle Times

This culminates in the battle of Armageddon, with the mass slaughter of Jews as Israel is covered in “a sea of human blood,” as described by Hagee.

From Salon

That included the White House getting blown up by alien invaders in "Independence Day" or Paris, France going up in smoke thanks to fragments of a massive asteroid in "Armageddon."

From Salon

Related Words

• annihilation
• cataclysm
• catastrophe
• devastation