# Chernobyl

/tʃɝˈnoʊbəɫ/ (US) · CEFR B2 · Noun

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

## Definition

a massive nuclear accident that happened in 1986. People use the name to talk about a huge disaster or a place that is completely ruined.

For teachers: the site of a catastrophic nuclear accident in 1986 in northern Ukraine. Often used metonymically to refer to the disaster itself or as a metaphor for a total, irreversible failure.

## Examples

- The disaster at Chernobyl changed how people view nuclear power.
- Scientists still visit the exclusion zone around Chernobyl to study the long-term effects of radiation on local wildlife.

## Usage notes

- When referring to the specific historical event or location, it is treated as a proper noun and is uncountable.

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