noun
calamity
kuh-LA-mih-tee
noun
1
A serious event that causes great damage, suffering, or loss.
"The flood was the worst calamity the town had seen in decades."
"Losing both his job and his home in the same month felt like one long calamity."
How to Use Calamity
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA disaster or major misfortune, often on a large scale.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "calumny," which means a false, damaging statement about someone.
Easily confused with
calumny
Common pairings
a calamity struck
natural calamity
sheer calamity
Word Forms
calamities plural
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The flood was the worst _____ the town had seen in decades.
Etymology
From Latin calamitas, meaning "damage" or "disaster."