disaster

Universal Words noun 1 [C] 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 SYNCATASTROPHE: an air / a ferry disaster * environmental disasters * Thousands died in the disaster. * a natural disaster (= one that is caused by nature) 2 [C,U] 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 [C,U] (informal) a complete failure: As a teacher, he's a disaster. * The play's first night was a total disaster. IDIOMS see WAITv.