# tragic

/ˈtɹædʒɪk/ (US) · /tɹˈædʒɪk/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. causing great sadness

adjective · CEFR B2

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

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

- The news reported a tragic accident on the motorway that claimed three lives.
- The community struggled to process the tragic loss of the local library, which had served as a cultural hub for over a century.

### 2. literary style

adjective · CEFR C1 · Academic

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

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

- The play follows a tragic hero who loses everything because of his pride.
- Scholars often debate whether the protagonist's downfall is a result of fate or a specific tragic flaw in his character.

### 3. embarrassing or uncool

adjective · CEFR C1 · Informal · Slang

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

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

- He wore a neon tracksuit to the wedding, which was just tragic.
- Her desperate attempts to stay relevant on social media by using outdated slang were widely considered tragic by her younger peers.

### 4. an obsessive fan

noun · CEFR C2 · Informal · Dialect

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

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

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

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

## Examples

- The news of the car accident was truly tragic.
- The community gathered to support the family after the tragic loss of their home in the fire.
- The play follows a tragic hero whose inability to forgive his enemies eventually leads to his own isolation and demise, illustrating the destructive power of pride.

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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.