Word
tragedy
US/ˈtɹædʒədi/
UK/tɹˈædʒədi/
Definitions
01a sad event
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a very sad event, accident, or situation that causes great suffering or death.
n. a disastrous event or situation, especially one involving significant loss of life, injury, or profound misfortune.
“The local community was shocked by the tragedy of the house fire.”
“The sudden collapse of the bridge was a national tragedy that prompted an immediate investigation into the city's infrastructure safety.”
Synonyms
02literary genre
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Theater
n. a serious play, movie, or book that has a very sad ending, usually where the main character dies or loses everything.
n. a dramatic or literary genre dealing with serious themes and the downfall of a protagonist due to fate or a character flaw.
“Shakespeare wrote many famous tragedies, including Romeo and Juliet.”
“The students spent the semester analysing the role of fate in Greek tragedy, focusing specifically on the works of Sophocles.”
Usage
Often used as an uncountable noun when referring to the genre as a whole.
Synonyms
Antonyms
03a specific sad story
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Theater
n. a particular book, play, or film that is a tragedy.
n. a specific creative work belonging to the genre of tragedy.
“The play we saw last night was a real tragedy; everyone in the audience was crying.”
“Critics hailed the new film as a modern tragedy that perfectly captured the isolation of urban life.”
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “tragedy” in context.
Verb
01. avert a tragedy
“The pilot's quick thinking managed to avert a tragedy and save all the passengers.”
verb + noun
02. end in tragedy
“The mountain expedition, which started with such hope, ended in tragedy when a storm hit.”
verb + prep + noun
Adjective
03. greek tragedy
“In our literature class, we analyzed the themes of fate and pride in a classic Greek tragedy.”
adj + noun
04. personal tragedy
“Despite his recent personal tragedy, he continued to work hard for his community.”
adj + noun
05. preventable tragedy
“The safety inspectors argued that the factory fire was a preventable tragedy.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. sense of tragedy
“There was a profound sense of tragedy in the air as the town gathered for the memorial.”
noun + of + noun
07. tragedy struck
“The family was enjoying their holiday until tragedy struck on the final day.”
noun + verb
Preposition
08. in the wake of the tragedy
“New safety laws were introduced in the wake of the tragedy to ensure it never happens again.”
prep + noun + prep + noun
Real-World Examples
“Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Burnham said Jason Arday’s death was “a tragedy on so many levels”.” “Andy Burnham has called the death of Jason Arday, whose body was found at his home in south London on Friday, a “tragedy on so many levels”.” Etymology
Middle English tragedie from Old French tragedie, itself from Latin tragoedia, in turn from Ancient Greek τραγῳδία (tragōidía), a compound of τράγος (trágos, “male goat”) and ᾠδή (ōidḗ, “song”).
The ancients were already arguing about why a dramatic form took its name from livestock. The Dorians, whose early performances featured goat-satyrs prancing across the orchestra, provide one candidate. A second, offered by the modern Hellenist Robert Beekes, suggests the goat may simply have been the prize awarded to the winning playwright — a practical animal, dispatched for its meat rather than its muse. After twenty-five centuries the question remains unsettled, though the word has long since left paddock and stagehand behind.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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