apocalypse

noun

apoc·​a·​lypse ə-ˈpä-kə-ˌlips 

plural apocalypses

1

a

: one of the Jewish and Christian writings of 200 b.c. to a.d. 150 marked by pseudonymity, symbolic imagery, and the expectation of an imminent cosmic cataclysm in which God destroys the ruling powers of evil and raises the righteous to life in a messianic kingdom

b

capitalized : revelation sense 3

2

a

: something viewed as a prophetic revelation

b

: armageddon

3

a

: a large, disastrous fire : inferno

Most foresters agree that small, "prescribed" burns, carefully controlled, are essential to prevent the larger apocalypse.

—Lance Morrow

b

: a great disaster

an environmental apocalypse

Synonyms

• calamity
• cataclysm
• catastrophe
• debacle
• débâcle
• disaster
• tragedy

Examples of apocalypse in a Sentence

His book tells of an environmental apocalypse.

the fear that the next global pandemic could be an apocalypse of biblical proportions

Recent Examples on the Web

The Bondsman never seems to know quite how seriously to take the state of Hub’s soul, or the looming possibility of apocalypse, or all the many, many deaths along the way. —Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 1 Apr. 2025

But these posthumous men have already survived an apocalypse of a kind. —Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 17 Mar. 2025

That backstory comes well before the suggestion of an imminent apocalypse that lends a dread-like quality to the trailer for a movie told in reverse chronological order. —Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Mar. 2025

The horsemen of the SaaS apocalypse are productivity gains, structural changes in software and investor sentiment. —Ron Williams, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English Apocalipse "Revelation (the New Testament book)," borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Late Latin apocalypsis "revelation, the Book of Revelation," borrowed from Greek apokálypsis "uncovering, disclosure, revelation," from apokalyp-, stem of apokalýptein "to uncover, disclose, reveal" (from apo- apo- + kalýptein "to cover, protect, conceal," of uncertain origin) + -sis -sis

Note: Greek kalýptein is associated in older handbooks with Indo-European *ḱel- "conceal" (see conceal), though neither the vocalism nor the supposed extension *-up- are easily explicable.

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing apocalypse

• the apocalypse

Rhymes for apocalypse

• apprenticeships
• assistantships
• championships
• dictatorships
• directorships
• professorships
• receiverships
• relationships
• airships
• airstrips
• clerkships
• eclipse

Kids Definition

apocalypse

1 of 2 noun

apoc·​a·​lypse

ə-ˈpä-kə-ˌlips

1

: something thought of as a prophetic revelation

2

a

: the place or time of the final battle between good and evil

b

: a decisive battle

3

: a great disaster

apocalyptic

ə-ˌpä-kə-ˈlip-tik

adjective

Apocalypse

2 of 2 noun

: one of the Jewish and Christian writings of 200 b.c. to a.d. 150 by an author writing under a pseudonym that is marked by symbolic imagery and the expectation of an imminent cosmic cataclysm in which God destroys the ruling powers of evil and raises the righteous to life in a heavenly kingdom see bible