# tragedy

/ˈtɹædʒədi/ (US) · /tɹˈædʒədi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/tragedy
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. a sad event

noun · CEFR B2

a very sad event, accident, or situation that causes great suffering or death.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. literary genre

noun · CEFR B2

a serious play, movie, or book that has a very sad ending, usually where the main character dies or loses everything.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. a specific sad story

noun · CEFR B2

a particular book, play, or film that is a tragedy.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The sudden closing of the factory was a tragedy for the town.
- The community held a vigil to mourn the tragedy and support the victims' families after the fire.
- For the ancient Greeks, tragedy was not merely sad entertainment but a civic ritual exploring the relationship between human flaws and inescapable divine will.

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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.