There are 12 meanings listed in OED's entry for the word tragic, two of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence. A tragic event or situation is extremely sad, usually because it involves death or suffering.

Understanding the Context

It was just a tragic accident. ...the tragic loss of so many lives. The circumstances are tragic but we have to act 1. dreadful, calamitous, disastrous, or fatal: a tragic event.

Key Insights

2. extremely mournful, melancholy, or pathetic. 3. pertaining to or characteristic of tragedy: a tragic actor; tragic solemnity. (informal, chiefly predicative) Cringeworthy; tryhard; unhip; embarrassing; hopeless; indicative of (or having) a chronic lack of self-awareness.

Final Thoughts

That dress is tragic. He's pretty tragic these The meaning of TRAGIC is regrettably serious or unpleasant : deplorable, lamentable. How to use tragic in a sentence. TRAGIC definition: 1. very sad, often involving death and suffering: 2. belonging or relating to literature about .

Learn more. TRAGIC definition: characteristic or suggestive of tragedy. See examples of tragic used in a sentence. Definition of tragic adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary.