disaster

di·sas·ter
D2I1S1A1S1T1E1R1
UK, UK/dɪˈzɑːs.təː/UK, UK[dɪˈzɑːs.təː]Northern England, UK/dɪˈzas.təː//dəˈzäːs.təː/

noun

An unexpected natural or man-made catastrophe of substantial extent causing significant physical damage or destruction, loss of life or sometimes permanent change to the natural environment.

“the cake was a disaster.”

Similar
adversityapocalypsecalamitycatastrophemiseryqualmwoetragedy
OriginMiddle French desastre ← Italian disastro ← Latin astrum →
CommonScrabble 9
Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

noundisaster (countable and uncountable, plural disasters)

plural disasters · alternative archaic disastre

  1. countableuncountableAn unexpected natural or man-made catastrophe of substantial extent causing significant physical damage or destruction, loss of life or sometimes permanent change to the natural environment.

    People would suffer disasters when society's morality degenerates.

    1 more example

    Floods in northern India, mostly in the small state of Uttarakhand, have wrought disaster on an enormous scale. The early, intense onset of the monsoon on June 14th swelled rivers, washing away roads, bridges, hotels and even whole villages. Rock-filled torrents smashed vehicles and homes, burying victims under rubble and sludge.

    2013 June 29, “High and wet”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8842, page 28
  2. countableuncountableAn unfortunate or unpleasant occurrence, especially one resulting from an accident or something going wrong.

    A nod means good, two nods; very good. And then there's the pursing of the lips: disaster.

    2003, The Devil Wears Prada
    2 more examples

    Then Jill came in, And she did grin, To see Jack's paper plaster; Her mother whipt her, Across her knee, For laughing at Jack's disaster.

    1810, Jack and Jill, and old Dame Gill, York: J. Kendrew, page 4

    And no use for anyone to tell Charles that this was because the Family was in mourning for Mr Granville Darracott […]: Charles might only have been second footman at Darracott Place for a couple of months when that disaster occurred, but no one could gammon him into thinking that my lord cared a spangle for his heir.

    1959, Georgette Heyer, chapter 1, in The Unknown Ajax
  3. countableuncountableAn wholly unsatisfactory result caused by something going wrong or being done poorly; a flop or failure.

    the cake was a disaster.

  4. countableuncountableA skateboard trick involving a 180-degree ollie, landing on the center of the board with the front trucks facing towards the ramp and the back trucks over the lip. The skater then leans forwards to return in the ramp.

Synonyms & antonyms

Similar
adversityapocalypsecalamitycatastrophemiseryqualmwoe
Broader
occurrence
Narrower
doomsday eventnatural disasteravalancherockslidemudslideearthquakeseaquakefloodtidal wavetsunamieruptioncataclysmblizzarddroughthailstormtornadoepidemicfamine

nouna state of extreme (usually irremediable) ruin and misfortune

Similar
catastrophe
Broader
adversityhardshiphard knocks

nounan event resulting in great loss and misfortune

Similar
calamitycatastrophetragedycataclysm
Broader
misfortunebad luck
Also see
afterclapblowcalamitycataclysmcatastrophesorrowtragedywoe

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*h₂stḗr
  2. Ancient Greekἄστρον“star”
  3. Latinastrum“star”
  4. Italiandisastro
  5. Middle Frenchdesastre
  6. Englishdisaster

From Middle French desastre, from Italian disastro, from dis- + astro (“star”), from Latin astrum (“star”), from Ancient Greek ἄστρον (ástron, “star”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂stḗr.

More words from Middle French, Italian, Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Ancient Greek καταστροφή, καταστροφή
  • καταστροφή (katastrophḗ)unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • καταστροφή (katastrophḗ)unforeseen event causing great loss, etc.
Arabic كَارِثَة, مُصِيبَة
  • كَارِثَة (kāriṯa)unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • مُصِيبَة (muṣība)unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • آفَة (ʔāfa)unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
Bengali বিপর্যয়, দুর্যোগ
  • বিপর্যয় (biporjoẏ)unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • দুর্যোগ (durjōg)unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • আফত (aphot)unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
Bulgarian злополу́ка, катастро́фа
  • злополу́ка (zlopolúka)unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • катастро́фа (katastrófa)unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • бе́дствие (bédstvie)unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • бе́дствие (bédstvie)unforeseen event causing great loss, etc.
Catalan desastre
  • desastreunexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
Chinese Cantonese 災難 /灾难, 災害 /灾害
  • 災難 /灾难 (zoi¹ naan⁶)unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • 災害 /灾害 (zoi¹ hoi⁶)unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • 災禍 /灾祸 (zoi¹ wo⁶)unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • 災難 /灾难 (zoi¹ naan⁶)unforeseen event causing great loss, etc.
Chinese Mandarin 災難 /灾难, 災害 /灾害
  • 災難 /灾难 (zāinàn)unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • 災害 /灾害 (zāihài)unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • 災禍 /灾祸 (zāihuò)unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • 災難 /灾难 (zāinàn)unforeseen event causing great loss, etc.
Czech pohroma, katastrofa
  • pohromaunexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • katastrofaunexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • neštěstíunexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
Danish katastrofe, ulykke
  • katastrofeunexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • ulykkeunexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • katastrofeunforeseen event causing great loss, etc.
Dutch ramp, onheil
  • rampunexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • onheilunexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • catastrofeunexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • rampunforeseen event causing great loss, etc.
Esperanto malfeliĉego, katastrofo
  • malfeliĉegounexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • katastrofounforeseen event causing great loss, etc.
Estonian õnnetus, katastroof
  • õnnetusunexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • katastroofunexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
Finnish onnettomuus, katastrofi
  • onnettomuusunexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • katastrofiunexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • onnettomuusunforeseen event causing great loss, etc.
  • katastrofiunforeseen event causing great loss, etc.
French désastre, catastrophe
  • désastreunexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • catastropheunexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • désastreunforeseen event causing great loss, etc.
German Desaster, Unglück
  • Desasterunexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • Unglückunexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • Katastropheunexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • Unheilunexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • Desasterunforeseen event causing great loss, etc.
Greek καταστροφή, καταστροφή
  • καταστροφή (katastrofí)unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • καταστροφή (katastrofí)unforeseen event causing great loss, etc.
Hebrew אָסוֹן, אָסוֹן
  • אָסוֹן (asón)unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • אָסוֹן (asón)unforeseen event causing great loss, etc.
Hindi आपदा, तबाही
  • आपदा (āpdā)unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • तबाही (tabāhī)unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • आफ़त (āfat)unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • मुसीबत (musībat)unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
Hungarian katasztrófa, katasztrófa
  • katasztrófaunexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • katasztrófaunforeseen event causing great loss, etc.
Icelandic hörmung, hamfarir
  • hörmungunexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • hamfarirunexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • katastrófaunexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
Indonesian bencana, musibah
  • bencanaunexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • musibahunexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • malapetakaunexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
Irish tubaiste, anachain
  • tubaisteunexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • anachainunexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
Italian disastro, disastro
  • disastrounexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • disastrounforeseen event causing great loss, etc.
Japanese 災害, 天災
  • 災害 (saigai)unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • 天災 (tensai)unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • 惨事 (sanji)unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • 災い (wazawai)unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • 災難 (sainan)unforeseen event causing great loss, etc.
Korean 재난, 재앙
  • 재난 (jaenan)unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • 재앙 (jaeang)unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • 재해 (jaehae)unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • 참사 (chamsa)unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • 재난 (jaenan)unforeseen event causing great loss, etc.
Latin calamitās, clādēs
  • calamitāsunexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • clādēsunexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • perniciēsunforeseen event causing great loss, etc.
  • clādēsunforeseen event causing great loss, etc.
Latvian posts, nelaime
  • postsunexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • nelaimeunexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • katastrofaunexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
Lithuanian nelaimė, katastrofa
  • nelaimėunexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • katastrofaunexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
Malay bencana
  • bencanaunexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
Māori inati, aituā
  • inatiunexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • aituāunexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
Norwegian Bokmål katastrofe, miljøkatastrofe
  • katastrofeunexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • miljøkatastrofeunexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • katastrofeunforeseen event causing great loss, etc.
Persian فاجِعِه, مُصیبَت
  • فاجِعِه (fâje'e)unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • مُصیبَت (mosibat)unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • فَلاکَت (falâkat)unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • آفَت (âfat)unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
Polish katastrofa, nieszczęście
  • katastrofaunexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • nieszczęścieunexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • biedaunexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • katastrofaunforeseen event causing great loss, etc.
Portuguese desastre, desastre
  • desastreunexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • desastreunforeseen event causing great loss, etc.
Romanian nenorocire, dezastru
  • nenorocireunexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • dezastruunexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • catastrofăunexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • flagelunexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • calamitateunexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • dezastruunforeseen event causing great loss, etc.
Russian бе́дствие, катастро́фа
  • бе́дствие (bédstvije)unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • катастро́фа (katastrófa)unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • несча́стье (nesčástʹje)unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • го́ре (góre)unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • беда́ (bedá)unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • бе́дствие (bédstvije)unforeseen event causing great loss, etc.
  • катастро́фа (katastrófa)unforeseen event causing great loss, etc.
Scottish Gaelic creach, creach
  • creachunexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • creachunforeseen event causing great loss, etc.
Slovak pohroma, katastrofa
  • pohromaunexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • katastrofaunexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • nešťastieunexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
Spanish desastre
  • desastreunexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
Swahili janga, afa
  • jangaunexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • afaunexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • jangaunforeseen event causing great loss, etc.
  • afaunforeseen event causing great loss, etc.
Swedish katastrof, olycka
  • katastrofunexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • olyckaunexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • katastrofunforeseen event causing great loss, etc.
Thai ภัยพิบัติ
  • ภัยพิบัติ (pai-pí-bàt)unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
Turkish afet, felaket
  • afetunexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • felaketunexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • faciaunexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
Ukrainian катастро́фа, ли́хо
  • катастро́фа (katastrófa)unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • ли́хо (lýxo)unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • неща́стя (neščástja)unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • го́ре (hóre)unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • біда́ (bidá)unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
Urdu آفَت, مُصِیبَت
  • آفَت (āfat)unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • مُصِیبَت (musībat)unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • تَباہی (tabāhī)unexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
Vietnamese tai hoạ, thảm hoạ
  • tai hoạunexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • thảm hoạunexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
Welsh trychineb, trychineb
  • trychinebunexpected catastrophe causing physical damage, etc.
  • trychinebunforeseen event causing great loss, etc.

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with disaster

masterfasterpastorblasterplasterrastercastorcasterasteralabasterheadmasterremastercadastrelastercotoneasterpastergastercremasteralastorKasterpiastreJasterpinasteradelaster
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

disaster. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/disaster

MLA

“disaster.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/disaster. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “disaster,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/disaster.

Source: disaster on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.