# Cassandra

/kəˈsændɹə/ (US) · CEFR C2 · Noun

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

## Definition

someone who predicts that something bad will happen but is not believed by others. Even if their warnings are correct, people usually ignore them.

For teachers: a person who prophesies disaster or misfortune but whose warnings are disregarded. Derived from the figure in Greek mythology who was cursed to speak true prophecies that no one would believe.

## Examples

- The economist was a lonely cassandra before the market crashed.
- Environmental scientists often feel like a collective cassandra, issuing urgent warnings about climate change that politicians choose to ignore.
- History eventually vindicated her as a modern cassandra, though her contemporary critics had dismissed her dire predictions about the housing bubble as mere alarmism.

## Usage notes

- Often used as a common noun, though it originates from a proper name; frequently appears in political or economic commentary.

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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.