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

Thinking about hedging an AI apocalypse more broadly leads to two approaches. —Bill Conerly, Forbes, 25 Nov. 2024

Hulu 'Shaun of the Dead' (2004) Edgar Wright's beloved breakthrough zombie comedy puts a daft spin on an undead apocalypse, with Simon Pegg and Nick Frost as loyal best friends ill-prepared for normal everyday life, much less an existential emergency. —Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 17 Oct. 2024

The Wild Robot is the king of the box office jungle with debut, while Megalopolis suffers an apocalypse bow Now in its fifth week of release, Tim Burton's Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is holding on to the top 5 just as spooky season begins in earnest. —Shania Russell, EW.com, 6 Oct. 2024

Poe’s great, terrifying symbol, an emblem of lost wandering, absent compassion, and frightful omens, evoked Noah and the Ark and real-life apocalypse. —Armond White, National Review, 20 Nov. 2024

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

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