disorderly conduct

noun

: a petty offense chiefly against public order and decency that falls short of an indictable misdemeanor

Examples of disorderly conduct in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Sylvia Ortiz-Velez, a Democratic state representative of Milwaukee, was ordered to pay a $300 fine and submit a DNA sample after pleading guilty to disorderly conduct in connection with a feud over her participation in drafting resolutions honoring Hispanics. —Arkansas Online, 14 Mar. 2026

Previously, he has been fined for disorderly conduct and littering in Lee’s Summit, according to court records. —Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 12 Mar. 2026

The anti-Islam protester accused of using pepper spray was also arrested, and three others were arrested on suspicion of disorderly conduct and obstructing traffic Tisch said. —Gloria Pazmino, CNN Money, 10 Mar. 2026

Ibrahim Balik, 61, of East Haven, is charged with disorderly conduct and third-degree assault. —Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 10 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1786, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for disorderly conduct

• abduct
• construct
• deduct
• destruct
• induct
• instruct
• obstruct
• aqueduct
• deconstruct
• reconstruct
• bucked
• chucked

Legal Definition

disorderly conduct

noun

dis·​or·​der·​ly conduct

: conduct that is likely to lead to a disturbance of the public peace or that offends public decency

also : the petty offense of engaging in disorderly conduct compare breach of the peace

Note: The term disorderly conduct is used in statutes to identify various acts against the public peace. It has been held to include the use of obscene language in public, the blocking of public ways, and the making of threats. A statute must identify acts that constitute disorderly conduct with sufficient clarity in order to avoid being held unconstitutional because of vagueness.