disjointed

adjective

dis·​joint·​ed (ˌ)dis-ˈjȯin-təd How to pronounce disjointed (audio)
Synonyms of disjointednext
1
a
: being thrown out of orderly function
a disjointed society
b
: lacking coherence or orderly sequence
an incomplete and disjointed history
2
: separated at or as if at the joint
disjointedly adverb
disjointedness noun

Examples of disjointed in a Sentence

a disjointed harangue about a hodgepodge of things that are supposedly wrong with our society
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.
But on the ground, frustration is growing over what many see as a slow and disjointed response. Manuel Rueda, NPR, 27 June 2026 Wemby didn’t hesitate, but since English isn’t his first language, his initial response — something banal about being a team player who wants to win a lot of games — came out a bit disjointed. Candace Buckner, New York Times, 24 June 2026 In my disjointed sensory puzzle, the CCTV screens hold the next. Ashley Andreou, STAT, 22 June 2026 The early score seemed to settle the team, which had looked disjointed for the first few minutes. Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 13 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for disjointed

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1586, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of disjointed was circa 1586

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Disjointed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disjointed. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

disjointed

adjective
dis·​joint·​ed
1
: separated at or as if at the joint
2
: not clear and orderly : incoherent
disjointed conversation
disjointedly adverb
disjointedness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on disjointed

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster