What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
crisis
Example
The company is facing a financial crisis. [crisis: noun]
Example
The government is trying to manage the crisis caused by the natural disaster. [crisis: noun]
disaster
Example
The earthquake was a disaster for the city. [disaster: noun]
Example
The hurricane caused a lot of destruction and was declared a national disaster. [disaster: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Disaster is more commonly used than crisis in everyday language. Disaster is a term that is often used in news reports, while crisis is more commonly used in business or political contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between crisis and disaster?
Both crisis and disaster can be used in formal and informal contexts. However, crisis is often used in more formal settings, such as business or politics, while disaster is used in a wider range of contexts, including informal conversations and news reports.