What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
casualty
Example
The hospital treated many casualties from the car crash. [casualty: noun]
Example
The earthquake caused a high number of casualties. [casualties: plural noun]
disaster
Example
The hurricane was a major disaster, causing widespread destruction. [disaster: noun]
Example
The project turned into a disaster due to poor planning. [disaster: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Disaster is more commonly used than casualty in everyday language. Disaster is a versatile term that can be applied to various situations, while casualty is more specific and often used in more specialized contexts such as healthcare or military.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between casualty and disaster?
Both casualty and disaster can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, casualty is more commonly used in technical or professional settings, while disaster is more commonly used in general conversation and media.
