calamity

noun
UK: /kəˈlæm.ə.ti/
US: /kəˈlæm.ə.ti/

  1. An event causing great and often sudden damage or distress; a disaster.

    1. The fire was a terrible calamity for the town.
    2. The unexpected flood brought calamity to many families living near the river.

  2. A serious event that causes difficulty and unhappiness.

    1. Losing his job was a real calamity.
    2. The closing of the factory was a major calamity for the local economy, leading to widespread unemployment.

Synonyms

catastrophe misfortune tragedy hardship disaster

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "calamity" in English means: An event causing great and often sudden damage or distress; a disaster., A serious event that causes difficulty and unhappiness..

The phonetic transcription of "calamity" is /kəˈlæm.ə.ti/ in British English and /kəˈlæm.ə.ti/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "calamity": catastrophe, misfortune, tragedy, hardship, disaster.

Example usage of "calamity": "The fire was a terrible calamity for the town.". More examples on the page.