dispersal
noun
dis·pers·al
di-ˈspər-səl 
: the act or result of dispersing
especially
: the process or result of the spreading of organisms from one place to another
Examples of dispersal in a Sentence
the dispersal of plant seeds in the forests through natural means
Recent Examples on the Web
But dispersal of attention is essential.
—
Literary Hub, 6 Jan. 2026
On May 30, 1991, just five days after the North Stars had lost the Stanley Cup Final to Pittsburgh in six games, the NHL held a dispersal draft to help stock the new expansion team.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 31 Dec. 2025
The lawsuit alleges that the dispersal order and threat of arrest were directed at SJP members but not at counterprotesters supporting Israel who were present at the same location, including members of Jewish student organizations.
—David Hudnall, Kansas City Star, 18 Dec. 2025
This method of seed dispersal is called endozoochory, says Tristram Seidler, a biology professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and the curator of the UMass Amherst Herbarium.
—Scott Neuman, NPR, 17 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dispersal
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.
Literary Hub, 6 Jan. 2026
On May 30, 1991, just five days after the North Stars had lost the Stanley Cup Final to Pittsburgh in six games, the NHL held a dispersal draft to help stock the new expansion team.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 31 Dec. 2025
The lawsuit alleges that the dispersal order and threat of arrest were directed at SJP members but not at counterprotesters supporting Israel who were present at the same location, including members of Jewish student organizations.
—David Hudnall, Kansas City Star, 18 Dec. 2025
This method of seed dispersal is called endozoochory, says Tristram Seidler, a biology professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and the curator of the UMass Amherst Herbarium.
—Scott Neuman, NPR, 17 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dispersal
Cite this Entry
“Dispersal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dispersal. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
dispersal
noun
dis·pers·al
dis-ˈpər-səl
: the act or result of dispersing
Medical Definition
dispersal
noun
dis·pers·al
dis-ˈpər-səl
: the act or result of dispersing
specifically
: the process or result of the spreading of organisms from one place to another
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share