/ ˈtrædʒədi; NAmE / noun [ C , U ] ( pl. -ies )
1.
a very sad event or situation, especially one that involves death :
It's a tragedy that she died so young.
Tragedy struck the family when their son was hit by a car and killed.
The whole affair ended in tragedy .
2.
a serious play with a sad ending, especially one in which the main character dies; plays of this type :
Shakespeare's tragedies
Greek tragedy
—compare comedy
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from Old French tragedie , via Latin from Greek tragōidia , apparently from tragos goat (the reason remains unexplained) + ōidē song, ode. Compare with tragic .