chaos

noun

cha·​os ˈkā-ˌäs How to pronounce chaos (audio)
1
a
: a state of utter confusion
the blackout caused chaos throughout the city
b
: a confused mass or mixture
a chaos of television antennas
2
a
often capitalized : a state of things in which chance is supreme
especially : the confused unorganized state of primordial matter before the creation of distinct forms compare cosmos
b
: the inherent unpredictability in the behavior of a complex natural system (such as the atmosphere, boiling water, or the beating heart)
3
obsolete : chasm, abyss

Examples of chaos in a Sentence

The loss of electricity caused chaos throughout the city. When the police arrived, the street was in total chaos. The country had descended into economic chaos.
Recent Examples on the Web And that list, in a nutshell, pretty much sums up the kind of creative chaos Big Mouth excels at. 02 John Mulaney (Andrew Glouberman) Friends on screen and in real life, the chemistry between John Mulaney (as Nick's best bud Andrew Glouberman) and Nick Kroll comes naturally. Debby Wolfinsohn, EW.com, 6 Mar. 2024 The weekend's wave of violence comes amid growing chaos and lawlessness in Haiti, sparked by the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021. Michele Kelemen, NPR, 6 Mar. 2024 Then, 43 students vanished in the chaos that ensued. Julia Gomez, USA TODAY, 6 Mar. 2024 After three consecutive years of spring break violence, Miami Beach officials are implementing monthlong security measures aimed at curbing the chaos, including parking restrictions for non-residents and closing sidewalk cafes on busy weekends. David Fischer, The Christian Science Monitor, 5 Mar. 2024 Paris is preparing for the Summer Olympics and is also currently experiencing a lot of social unrest, which adds to the chaos. Emmett Lindner, New York Times, 4 Mar. 2024 The sound of the gunshots sent the crowded area into chaos. James Hartley, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Mar. 2024 The European Union’s diplomatic service said many of the hundreds of Palestinians killed or wounded in the chaos surrounding an aid convoy on Thursday were hit by Israeli army fire and urged an international investigation. Samy Magdy, Twin Cities, 2 Mar. 2024 Rollerblading into the vibrant chaos of Venice Beach after leaving their idyllic pink Dream House realm. Fawnia Soo Hoo, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'chaos.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from Greek — more at gum

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of chaos was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near chaos

Cite this Entry

“Chaos.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chaos. Accessed 15 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

chaos

noun
cha·​os ˈkā-ˌäs How to pronounce chaos (audio)
: complete confusion
chaotic adjective
chaotically adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on chaos

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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