The chemical reactions and pathways resulting in the breakdown of chondroitin sulfate, any member of a group of 10-60 kDa glycosaminoglycans, widely distributed in cartilage and other mammalian connective tissues, the repeat units of which consist of beta-(1,4)-linked D-glucuronyl beta-(1,3)-N-acetyl-D-galactosamine sulfate. [ https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=bn%3A0198506732 ]