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
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Flight cancellations from what was unofficially dubbed Winter Storm Elliott were inevitable, creating chaos at most airlines for a day. Lila MacLellan, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2024 Coupled with the general chaos of These Times, a touch of nostalgia feels like the perfect balm. Naomi Rougeau, Robb Report, 26 Oct. 2024 The epidemic of hoax threats has targeted both international and domestic flights, causing chaos on long-haul trips headed for places such as New York. Jessie Yeung, CNN, 25 Oct. 2024 That looking forward helps clients and customers forget about the common distractions that holiday chaos and stress bring. Expert Panel®, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for chaos 

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 9 Nov. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!