- [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
- the world's worst humanitarian disaster
- an environmental/ecological disaster
- a rail/mining/tsunami disaster
- in a disaster Thousands died in the disaster.
- They provided more than $2.3 billion in disaster relief.
- It was taking years for disaster victims to settle and rebuild.
- Given the threat of earthquake, we recognized the need for disaster recovery centres.
Extra Examples- Europe's worst environmental disaster is unfolding at this very moment.
- He called for a full investigation to help prevent future disasters.
- 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.
- It was a miracle any of the passengers or crew survived the disaster.
- No government could have handled a disaster of this magnitude effectively.
- the need for a disaster management plan
- The disaster relief operation will continue over the summer.
- The majority of enterprises aren't spending very much on disaster recovery at all.
- They had no real experience in disaster management.
- This morning I signed a disaster declaration for the state.
- We have a disaster plan in place before every mission.
- Will we ever find out why the disaster occurred?
- a Hollywood disaster movie
- 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
- fears of a nuclear disaster
- finding out why the disaster occurred
- providing help for the victims of the disaster
- the biggest disaster in British mining history
- the governor's disaster fund
- the planning and implementation of disaster preparedness
- the unfolding storm disaster in the South
- Such environmental disasters will become increasingly frequent.
- They were involved in the 2001 ferry disaster.
- a near disaster in the city centre
- Although there was always the possibility of flooding, the Nile seldom brought disaster to Egypt.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- awful
- big
- catastrophic
- …
- bring
- cause
- create
- …
- happen
- occur
- strike
- …
- area
- scene
- site
- …
- in a/the disaster
- a disaster waiting to happen
- in the aftermath of a disaster
- a recipe for disaster
- …
Definitions on the go
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- [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.
- Archie has to act quickly to avert disaster.
- They could think of no way to avoid the impending disaster.
- Many business partnerships end in disaster.
- disaster for somebody 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).
Extra Examples- Buying that house turned out to be a financial disaster.
- The festival ended up being a financial disaster for the promoters.
- Everyone had the feeling that disaster was imminent.
- Everything was going fine. Then, without warning, disaster struck.
- High-rise buildings proved a social disaster.
- His prediction was not heeded, and disaster ensued.
- In the last match of the series England were facing disaster.
- Independent analysts in the market predicted disaster.
- It could become a financial disaster scenario.
- It seemed that nothing could prevent the impending disaster.
- It would spell certain economic disaster for our local community.
- Just one mistake can mean disaster.
- It's courting disaster to go into the mountains without proper weatherproof clothing.
- One person's mistakes can bring disaster to someone else.
- The drought spelled economic disaster for the country.
- The festival ended up being a financial disaster for the promoters.
- 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.
- We could all see that disaster loomed for the company.
- his firm belief that the whole world was heading for disaster
- the greatest electoral disaster of the century
- the unforeseen disaster that has just been thrust upon us
- What can be done to ward off environmental disaster?
- A disaster recovery plan allows a business to continue as usual in the event of system failures.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- awful
- big
- catastrophic
- …
- bring
- cause
- create
- …
- happen
- occur
- strike
- …
- area
- scene
- site
- …
- in a/the disaster
- a disaster waiting to happen
- in the aftermath of a disaster
- a recipe for disaster
- …
- [countable] (informal) a complete failure
- As a teacher, he's a disaster.
- The play's first night was a total disaster.
- a complete/total/absolute/unmitigated disaster
Extra ExamplesTopics Difficulty and failurea2- I am a walking disaster when it comes to paperwork.
- He could already foresee the night turning into a total disaster.
- The play was a complete disaster from beginning to end.
- The shirt was a definite fashion disaster.
- She was a competent accountant, but as a manager she's a disaster.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- absolute
- complete
- real
- …
- prove
- turn out to be
- become
- …
- a disaster for somebody/something
Word Originlate 16th cent.: from Italian disastro ‘ill-starred event’, from dis- (expressing negation) + astro ‘star’ (from Latin astrum).
Idioms
See disaster in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee disaster in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishan accident/a disaster waiting to happen
- a thing or person that is very likely to cause danger or a problem in the future because of the condition it is in or the way they behave
- Any one of these nuclear plants may be a disaster waiting to happen.
Check pronunciation:
disaster