Definition

A situation that ends in complete failure or disaster, often in a public or embarrassing way.

Example

The event turned into a fiasco when the main speaker canceled at the last minute.

Conversation

Did you hear about the event last night?

Yeah, I heard it turned into a total fiasco!

It’s surprising how quickly things can go wrong like that.

Right? It makes you wonder what went wrong in the planning.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Fiasco originates from Italian 'fiasco', meaning a flask or bottle, which is derived from 'fiascare', meaning to make a bottle. The term evolved to describe a failure or disaster, particularly in a theatrical context, as if a performance had failed to meet expectations, much like a broken bottle.

Memory Tip

Imagine a performance that goes so wrong it feels like a broken bottle — that's why 'fiasco' means a complete failure.

Visually Confused Words