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tragic

adj. · n.
US //ˈtɹædʒɪk// UK //tɹˈædʒɪk// trag·ic
  1. 1 causing great sadness (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    causing great sadness or suffering, especially because it involves death or a terrible accident.

    characterised by or causing extreme distress or sorrow, typically involving death, destruction, or a calamitous event.

    Example

    The news reported a tragic accident on the motorway that claimed three lives.

    Example

    The community struggled to process the tragic loss of the local library, which had served as a cultural hub for over a century.
  2. 2 literary style (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Academic Theatre

    relating to a serious play or story that has a very sad ending.

    pertaining to the genre of tragedy in literature or drama, specifically involving the downfall of a protagonist.

    Example

    The play follows a tragic hero who loses everything because of his pride.

    Example

    Scholars often debate whether the protagonist's downfall is a result of fate or a specific tragic flaw in his character.
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  1. 3 embarrassing or uncool (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Informal Slang

    very embarrassing, uncool, or showing a lack of style.

    indicative of a chronic lack of social awareness or style; used to describe someone perceived as pathetic or 'try-hard'.

    Example

    He wore a neon tracksuit to the wedding, which was just tragic.

    Example

    Her desperate attempts to stay relevant on social media by using outdated slang were widely considered tragic by her younger peers.
  2. 4 an obsessive fan (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Informal Dialect

    someone who is extremely interested in a specific hobby or sport, often to an embarrassing level.

    a person who is obsessively devoted to a particular interest, hobby, or sports team.

    Example

    My uncle is a total cricket tragic and never misses a single match.

    Example

    As a self-confessed political tragic, he spends his weekends reading obscure policy papers and watching live parliamentary debates.

    Usage

    Commonly used in Australian English, often in the phrase 'cricket tragic'.

    Teacher's tip

    This is a specific regionalism from Australia; outside of that context, it might be misunderstood as meaning someone who has suffered a disaster.
Origin

From Ancient Greek τραγικός (tragikós, “of or relating to tragedy”), from τράγος (trágos, “male goat”), a reference to the goat-satyrs of the theatrical plays of the Dorians.

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