# apocalypse

/əˈpɑkəˌɫɪps/ (US) · /ɐpˈɒkɐlˌɪps/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/apocalypse
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a massive disaster

noun · CEFR B2

a very large and terrible event that causes total destruction or ruin.

For teachers: a cataclysmic event of great scope and scale, often resulting in the collapse of society or the environment.

- The film shows a city trying to survive after a nuclear apocalypse.
- Environmental scientists warned that the continued loss of biodiversity could lead to an ecological apocalypse within the century.

### 2. the end of the world

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the final destruction of the world, often as described in religious books.

For teachers: the ultimate destruction of the world or the end of life on Earth, specifically as prophesied in religious eschatology.

- Many ancient cultures had stories about a coming apocalypse.
- The preacher spoke of the coming apocalypse, citing various signs and portents that he believed heralded the final judgment.

### 3. the Book of Revelation

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal · Technical

the last book of the Bible, which describes the end of the world.

For teachers: the final book of the New Testament, also known as the Revelation of St. John the Divine.

- The artist painted scenes inspired by the imagery in the Apocalypse.
- Scholars have long debated the symbolic meaning of the four horsemen described in the Apocalypse.

## Examples

- Many movies show what happens after a global apocalypse.
- The stock market crash felt like a financial apocalypse to the investors who lost their savings.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.