tragedy Definition

tragedy
noun tragedies

1. A serious catastrophe, accident, natural disaster, etc.

Thesaurus: misfortune, doom, disaster, catastrophe, calamity; Antonym: happiness, fortune, success.
2. colloq
Any sad event.
Example: an absolute tragedy when Aberdeen lost that goal
3. A serious play, film, opera, etc in which the protagonist is brought down, usually by a combination of events, circumstances, personal flaws, etc, and which often involves them having to examine, and try to come to terms with, the extent of their own culpability in how things turn out. See also catharsis, hubris.
4. Such plays as a group or genre. Compare comedy.
5. loosely
Any sad play, film, book, etc, especially one that ends with an unnecessary or untimely death, but that does not necessarily have the conventional elements of classical tragedy.

Etymology: 14c: from Greek tragoidia, from tragos goat + oide song.