catastrophic

[ kat-uh-strof-ik ]

adjective

1. of the nature of a catastrophe, or disastrous event; calamitous:

   a catastrophic failure of the dam.

Other Words From

• cata·strophi·cal·ly adverb
• noncat·a·strophic adjective
• noncat·a·strophi·cal·ly adverb
• super·cata·strophic adjective
• uncat·a·strophic adjective
• uncat·a·strophi·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of catastrophic¹

First recorded in 1820–30; from Greek katastrophikós, equivalent to catastroph(e) ( def ) + -ic ( def )

Example Sentences

Charlie died the following day at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary from the "catastrophic effects of a head injury" after he had been "shaken or thrown with such violence", Mr Lumley said.

From BBC

Charlie Roberts was 22 months old when he collapsed with a "catastrophic" head injury at his home in Darlington in January, Teesside Crown Court heard.

From BBC

The vessel suffered a catastrophic failure as it neared the sea floor, killing all five people onboard.

From BBC

The ICJ considers the claims made by South Africa about possible rights violations constituting genocide to be plausible, and that the consequence of waiting for the ruling could be catastrophic.

From Salon

The kind of “catastrophic event” that could cause something like this would be a crash or a derailment in which a cell is damaged, says Jon Hughes, managing director of UK Fire Training.

From BBC

Related Words

• calamitous
• cataclysmic
• disastrous
• fatal
• ruinous
• tragic