Definition of "catastrophic" []

• Of, relating to, or involving a catastrophe. (adjective)
• Involving or resulting in substantial, often ruinous medical expense: a catastrophic illness. (adjective)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "However, if these two "perfect storms" happen to be political in nature, the term catastrophic may be a bit over the top, that is, unless the eyes of both storms happen to contain United States Representatives, Senators and the President."
• "These sober national security experts don't use the word "catastrophic" lightly."
• "The Army Corps of Engineers says there has been what it called a catastrophic break at a lock along the Ohio River, the lock helped regulate river levels allowing boats and barges to get around the dams."