Definition

A serious event that causes a lot of damage, destruction, or suffering.

Example

The earthquake was a disaster that affected thousands of people.

Conversation

Did you hear about the storm last night?

Yeah, it was such a huge disaster for the town.

I can't believe how much damage it caused.

I know, right? They said it might take weeks to clean up.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Disaster is formed from "dis-" (meaning apart) and "aster" (from Greek "ἀστήρ" or "aster", meaning star). The term originally referred to a star that was unfavorable, indicating a misfortune or calamity caused by the stars' alignment.

Memory Tip

Think of a 'star' ('aster') that is 'unfavorable' ('dis-'), which helps you remember that a disaster is an unfortunate event.

Visually Confused Words