disaster (noun)
1 [countable] an unexpected event, such as a very bad accident, a flood or a fire, that kills a lot of people or causes a lot of damage
synonym catastrophe
an air disaster
environmental disasters
Thousands died in the disaster.
a natural disaster (= one that is caused by nature)
2 [countable, uncountable] a very bad situation that causes problems
Losing your job doesn't have to be such a disaster.
Disaster struck when the wheel came off.
financial disaster
The discovery of the disease among sheep spells financial disaster for farmers.
Letting her organize the party is a recipe for disaster (= something that is likely to go badly wrong).
3 [countable, uncountable] (informal) a complete failure
As a teacher, he's a disaster.
The play's first night was a total disaster.
Extra examples
Any one of these nuclear plants may be a disaster waiting to happen.
Buying that house turned out to be a financial disaster.
Europe’s worst environmental disaster is unfolding at this very moment.
Everyone had the feeling that disaster was imminent.
Everything was going fine. Then, without warning, disaster struck.
He called for a full investigation to help prevent future disasters.
High-rise buildings proved a social disaster.
His prediction was not heeded, and disaster ensued.
Hurricane Katrina was the costliest natural disaster in history.
I am a walking disaster when it comes to paperwork.
I can already foresee the night turning into a total disaster.
In a disaster everyone needs to keep calm.
In the aftermath of the disaster people were too shocked to give a clear picture of what had happened.
In the last match of the series England were facing disaster.
Independent analysts in the market predicted disaster.
It become a financial disaster scenario.
It seemed that nothing could prevent the impending disaster.
It was a miracle any of the passengers or crew survived the disaster.
It was a miracle any of the passengers or crew survived the worst air disaster in Portugal for 20 years.
It would spell certain economic disaster for our local community.
It’s courting disaster to go into the mountains without proper weatherproof clothing.
Just one mistake can mean disaster.
Letting her organize the party is a recipe for disaster.
No government could have handled a disaster of this magnitude effectively.
One person’s mistakes can bring disaster to someone else.
Only rescue workers are allowed into the disaster area.
The area has been declared a disaster zone.
The disaster relief operation will continue over the summer.
The drought spelled economic disaster for the country.
The festival ended up being a financial disaster for the promoters.
The majority of enterprises aren’t spending very much on disaster recovery at all.
The play was a complete disaster from beginning to end.
The shirt was a definite fashion disaster.
The show ended in disaster when the tent collapsed.
Their departure spells social disaster for the region.
There are many who have suffered personal disasters but managed to rebuild their lives.
They had no real experience in disaster management.
This is an unprecedented natural disaster.
This morning I signed a disaster declaration for the state.
We could all see that disaster loomed for the company.
We have a disaster plan in place before every mission.
What can be done to ward off environmental disaster?
Will we ever find out why the disaster occurred?
a Hollywood disaster movie
a near disaster in the city centre
an organization which provides help for the victims of the disaster
attempts to find out what caused the disaster
communities affected by disasters
counties eligible for federal disaster assistance
earthquakes, floods and other natural disasters
fears of a nuclear disaster
finding out why the disaster occurred
his firm belief that the whole world was heading for disaster
providing help for the victims of the disaster
the biggest disaster in British mining history
the governor’s disaster fund
the greatest electoral disaster of the century
the planning and implementation of disaster preparedness
the unfolding storm disaster in the South
the unforeseen disaster that has just been thrust upon us
the world’s worst humanitarian disaster
Although there was always the possibility of flooding, the Nile seldom brought disaster to Egypt.
Disaster struck when the wheel came off.
He was a competent accountant, but as a manager he’s a disaster.
Losing your job doesn’t have to be such a disaster.
Such environmental disasters will become increasingly frequent.
The discovery of the disease among sheep spells disaster for farmers.
The play’s first night was a total disaster.
They were involved in the 2001 ferry disaster.
They will not insure you against a natural disaster.
