chaos

noun

cha·​os ˈkā-ˌäs 

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 Chaos : 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

Synonyms of chaos

• havoc
• mess
• jumble
• confusion
• hell
• disorder

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

Lost amid the chaos was another dominant performance from Caitlin Clark, who finished with 24 points and nine assists to help Indiana secure the win. —Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 23 June 2026

Many experts believed any possible chaos or surprises in the draft would start at the fifth pick or later, because Dybantsa, Peterson, Boozer and Wilson were widely considered to be the top four prospects. —CBS News, 23 June 2026

English cricket has been in utter chaos for the last two weeks and the most damning indictment of those in charge is that this is a mess very much of their own making. —Nasser Hussain, New York Times, 23 June 2026

Much of the album was recorded at home—not in a luxury studio tucked behind a gate, but inside a space filled with the beautiful chaos of everyday life. —Desjah Altvater, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from Greek — more at gum

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Phrases Containing chaos

• chaos theory

Kids Definition

chaos

noun

cha·​os ˈkā-ˌäs 

: complete confusion

chaotic

kā-ˈät-ik 

adjective

chaotically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb