disruption

noun

dis·​rup·​tion dis-ˈrəp-shən How to pronounce disruption (audio)
plural disruptions
: the act or process of disrupting something : a break or interruption in the normal course or continuation of some activity, process, etc.
disruption of sleep
disruptions in service
a process that has continued without disruption
Throughout the history of medicine, health has been seen as a condition of equilibrium and illness as the disruption of a balanced state.David Mechanic
By 1925 most countries had recovered from the economic disruptions caused by the Great War of 1914-18.John A. Garraty

Examples of disruption in a Sentence

the flat tire resulted in an unfortunate disruption of the schedule for our road trip
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Food system instability exposes markets to cascading shocks: inflation, trade disruption, insurance losses and sovereign credit stress. Felicia Jackson, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025 Flash flood warnings and watches stretched from Virginia through Pennsylvania, as communities contended with fast-rising waters and significant travel disruption. Barney Henderson, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 July 2025 Building Baden Bower to $30 million annual recurring revenue within five years while serving 3,600+ paying clients across five continents suggests sustainable growth rather than temporary market disruption. Ascend Agency, New York Daily News, 14 July 2025 At the same time, rising tariffs and ongoing trade disruptions have made cattle production more costly. Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 14 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for disruption

Word History

First Known Use

1622, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of disruption was in 1622

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Disruption.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disruption. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.

Medical Definition

disruption

noun
dis·​rup·​tion dis-ˈrəp-shən How to pronounce disruption (audio)
: the act or process of breaking apart or rupturing
bandaged her leg tightly to prevent disruption of the partly healed wound
disrupt transitive verb

More from Merriam-Webster on disruption

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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