This is the 5642nd most frequent French word.
calamity
A disastrous event causing distress or suffering.
Here, 'calamité' directly refers to a disastrous event in a general environmental context.
La calamité naturelle a dévasté la région entière.
The natural calamity devastated the entire region.
In this sentence, 'calamité' metaphorically represents a severe negative impact on the economy.
Il a décrit la situation comme une véritable calamité pour l'économie locale.
He described the situation as a true calamity for the local economy.
Here, 'calamité' is used figuratively to convey a grave and undesirable situation in political contexts.