Phrase guide

disaster area

noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

An area that has been the site of a natural disaster that receives an official designation entitling residents and organizations within that area to receive relief and benefits.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Much of the central Gulf Coast was declared a disaster area after hurricane Katrina.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

An area that looks like one that has suffered a natural disaster.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: also, figuratively

Examples

  • Your room is a disaster area.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

a region whose population is affected by a general disaster

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: area, country

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

10 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: منطقة منكوبة — area that has been declared to suffer of consequences of a disaster
  • Cornish: terosva — area that has been declared to suffer of consequences of a disaster
  • Dutch: rampgebied — area that has been declared to suffer of consequences of a disaster
  • Finnish: tuhoalue — area that has been declared to suffer of consequences of a disaster
  • French: zone sinistrée — area that has been declared to suffer of consequences of a disaster
  • French: région sinistrée — area that has been declared to suffer of consequences of a disaster
  • German: Katastrophengebiet — area that has been declared to suffer of consequences of a disaster
  • Polish: obszar klęski — area that has been declared to suffer of consequences of a disaster
  • Russian: зо́на бе́дствия (zóna bédstvija) — area that has been declared to suffer of consequences of a disaster
  • Swedish: katastrofområde — area that has been declared to suffer of consequences of a disaster