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catastrophic failure JUST WRITTEN FOR YOU

/ˌkætəˈstrɒfɪk ˈfeɪljər/ · cat·as·troph·ic fail·ure
noun
  1. A sudden, complete, and often unexpected failure of a system, component, or process, resulting in significant damage or loss The catastrophic failure of the engine led to a complete shutdown of the factory.
Did you know? The term 'catastrophic failure' is often used in engineering, aerospace, and other fields to describe a failure that has severe consequences, such as the Challenger space shuttle disaster in 1986, which was caused by a catastrophic failure of the solid rocket booster joint.
Written by Lexi Wordsworth, Dictionary Editor 0 lookups Added Jul 17, 2026