doomsday

[ doomz-dey ]

noun

1. Theology. the day of the Last Judgment, at the end of the world.
2. any day of judgment or sentence.
3. nuclear destruction of the world.

adjective

1. given to or marked by forebodings or predictions of impending calamity; especially concerned with or predicting future universal destruction:

   the doomsday issue of all-out nuclear war.

2. capable of causing widespread or total destruction:

   doomsday weapons.

doomsday

/ ˈduːmzˌdeɪ /

noun

1. sometimes capital the day on which the Last Judgment will occur
2. any day of reckoning
3. modifier characterized by predictions of disaster

   doomsday scenario

Word History and Origins

Origin of doomsday¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English domes dai, Old English dōmesdæg “Judgment Day”; equivalent to doom ( def ) + 's ¹( def ) + day ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of doomsday¹

Old English dōmes dæg Judgment Day; related to Old Norse domsdagr

Example Sentences

With our planet’s history of close calls, it seems practical these days to get a doomsday bunker, if you can convince someone rich enough to buy one for you.

From Los Angeles Times

The industrial food supply will be the last bastion of the luxury economy, and we might mirror the cannibals in doomsday movies before we cede our idiosyncratic eating habits to austerity.

From Los Angeles Times

For years, the responsible nations of the world have tried myriad methods to thwart this doomsday scenario with sanctions, negotiated agreements and covert sabotage operations.

From Los Angeles Times

The purpose of the war Israel is fighting on multiple fronts is to beat Iran’s doomsday clock.

From Los Angeles Times

But reports from Lebanon suggest that Israel may not have intended to use this doomsday weapon just now.

From BBC