dislocation

noun

dis·​lo·​ca·​tion ˌdis-(ˌ)lō-ˈkā-shən 

-lə-

: the act of dislocating : the state of being dislocated: such as

a

: displacement of one or more bones at a joint : luxation

b

: a discontinuity in the otherwise normal lattice structure of a crystal

c

: disruption of an established order

Synonyms

• disruption
• disturbance

Examples of dislocation in a Sentence

the slightest dislocation in her daily routine bothered the elderly woman

Recent Examples on the Web

Drake’s music spoke to a particular kind of dislocation that resonated more deeply as modern life grew louder and faster. —arkansasonline.com, 5 July 2025

At Yankee Stadium, center fielder Jung Hoo Lee, no longer shelved by last season’s shoulder dislocation, hit two home runs to power the Giants’ comeback victory. —Dennis Lin, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025

The series is less a procedural crime drama than a social portrait diving headfirst into the simmering cultural anxiety around boys and young men in the age of incels, male dislocation, and toxic podcasts. —Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 19 Mar. 2025

The dislocations and displacements — dramaturgical, visual, musical, acoustical — add up. —Justin Davidson, Vulture, 20 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for dislocation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

Kids Definition

dislocation

noun

dis·​lo·​ca·​tion ˌdis-(ˌ)lō-ˈkā-shən 

: the act of dislocating : the state of being dislocated

especially : displacement of one or more bones at a joint

Medical Definition

dislocation

noun

dis·​lo·​ca·​tion ˌdis-(ˌ)lō-ˈkā-shən, -lə- 

: displacement of one or more bones at a joint : luxation