Catastrophe/kəˈtæstrəfi/ Definition 1 of 3Pro Tip 1/3Sudden and Severe Use 'catastrophe' to describe events with immediate, widespread impact. After the dam burst, the resulting flood was a catastrophe. Pro Tip 2/3Human Suffering Highlighting significant loss, physical suffering, or fatalities. The famine led to a human catastrophe, affecting millions. Pro Tip 3/3Not Personal Refers usually to large-scale events, not personal misfortune. Losing your phone is not a catastrophe; it's an inconvenience.