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the doctrine that certain vast geological changes in the earth’s history were caused by catastrophes rather than gradual evolutionary processes.
Historical Examples

catastrophism and uniformitarianism are opposite extremes which must be combined and reconciled.
Appletons’ Popular Science Monthly, February 1900 Various

catastrophism, a short-sighted teleology, and a still more short-sighted orthodoxy, joined forces to crush evolution.
The Advance of Science in the Last Half-Century T.H. (Thomas Henry) Huxley

catastrophism is a corollary of it: if there were no imperfection there could be no advance.
The Unpopular Review, Number 19 Various

But, in revulsion from the previous idea of catastrophism, it undoubtedly was pushed much too far.
Appletons’ Popular Science Monthly, February 1900 Various

On first thought it might seem that such lawless movement was rather in keeping with catastrophism than uniformitarianism.
Appletons’ Popular Science Monthly, February 1900 Various

This principle of ‘uniformity’ knocked the old teaching of catastrophism on the head.
Extinct Monsters H. N. Hutchinson

For the idea of catastrophism had not concerned the destruction of species merely, but their introduction as well.
A History of Science, Volume 3(of 5) Henry Smith Williams

This view is a complete reconciliation of catastrophism and uniformitarianism, and is far more rational than either extreme.
Appletons’ Popular Science Monthly, Vol. 56, March 1900 Various

noun
an old doctrine, now discarded, that the earth was created and has subsequently been shaped by sudden divine acts which have no logical connection with each other rather than by gradual evolutionary processes
Also called neo-catastrophism. a modern doctrine that the gradual evolutionary processes shaping the earth have been supplemented in the past by the effects of huge natural catastrophes Compare uniformitarianism, gradualism (sense 2)
n.

as a geological or biological theory, 1869, coined by Huxley from catastrophe + -ism.

By CATASTROPHISM I mean any form of geological speculation which, in order to account for the phenomena of geology, supposes the operation of forces different in their nature, or immeasurably different in power, from those which we at present see in action in the universe. [T.H. Huxley, “Address” to the Geological Society of London, Feb. 19, 1869]

Related: Catastrophist.

catastrophism [(kuh-tas-truh-fiz-uhm)]

A theory holding that changes in the Earth take place swiftly and irreversibly. (Contrast gradualism.)

Note: A belief in Noah’s flood is one version of catastrophism.