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