# tragedy

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈtɹæd͡ʒɛdi/ · frequency rank #5,746

## Definitions
1. A drama or similar work, in which the main character is brought to ruin or otherwise suffers the extreme consequences of some tragic flaw or weakness of character.
2. The genre of such works, and the art of producing them.
3. A disastrous event, especially one involving great loss of life or injury.

## Etymology
From the Middle English tragedie, from the Old French tragedie, from the Latin tragoedia, from the Ancient Greek τραγῳδία (tragōidía, “epic play, tragedy”), from τράγος (trágos, “male goat”) + ᾠδή (ōidḗ, “song”), possibly a reference to the goat-satyrs of the theatrical plays of the Dorians, or according to Beekes possibly to a goat given as prize, though the etymology remains uncertain.

## Easily confused with
- **traded** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/traded-vs-tragedy)
- **traced** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/traced-vs-tragedy)
- **Tracey** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tracey-vs-tragedy)

## Common misspellings (11)
`rtagedy`, `targedy`, `traegdy`, `tragdey`, `trageddy`, `tragedyy`, `trageyd`, `traggedy`, `trgaedy`, `trragedy`, `ttragedy`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/tragedy