Meaning & Definition of Catastrophe in English

1. An event resulting in great loss and misfortune

• "The whole city was affected by the irremediable calamity"

• "The earthquake was a disaster"

2. A state of extreme (usually irremediable) ruin and misfortune

• "Lack of funds has resulted in a catastrophe for our school system"

• "His policies were a disaster"

3. A sudden violent change in the earth's surface