dislocate

verb

dis·​lo·​cate ˈdis-lō-ˌkāt 

-lə-;

(ˌ)dis-ˈlō- 

dislocated; dislocating; dislocates

transitive verb

1

: to put out of place

specifically : to displace (a bone) from normal connections with another bone

2

: to force a change in the usual status, relationship, or order of : disrupt

Synonyms

• budge
• displace
• disturb
• move
• relocate
• remove
• reposition
• shift
• transfer
• transpose

Examples of dislocate in a Sentence

She fell and dislocated her shoulder.

The new hotel will dislocate several businesses.

Thousands of workers have been dislocated by the latest economic crisis.

Recent Examples on the Web

In Game 3, another flagrant foul was called on Orlando’s Cole Anthony after a play in which Boston’s Jaylen Brown dislocated his left index finger. —Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Apr. 2025

Jaylen Brown was pulled to the ground by Cole Anthony while trying to make a shot during the second quarter, landing awkwardly on his left hand and dislocating his index finger. —Jamie Barton, CNN Money, 26 Apr. 2025

Conine, 27, dislocated his left shoulder while sliding into second base on a two-run double in Saturday’s 11-10 loss to Philadelphia. —Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2025

Robles dislocated his shoulder running into a wall Sunday, while Bliss tore a biceps on a swing Tuesday. —Chris Branch, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin dislocatus, past participle of dislocare, from Latin dis- + locare to locate

First Known Use

1601, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

dislocate

verb

dis·​lo·​cate ˈdis-lō-ˌkāt 

(ˈ)dis-ˈlō-

1

: to put out of place

especially : to displace (a bone) from normal connections with another bone

2

: disrupt

Medical Definition

dislocate

transitive verb

dis·​lo·​cate ˈdis-lō-ˌkāt  -lə-; (ˈ)dis-ˈlō-ˌkāt 

dislocated; dislocating

: to put (a body part) out of order by displacing a bone from its normal connections with another bone

he dislocated his shoulder

also : to displace (a bone) from normal connections with another bone

the humerus was dislocated in the fall