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

Synonyms of dispersal

• dispersion
• scattering

Examples of dispersal in a Sentence

the dispersal of plant seeds in the forests through natural means

Recent Examples on the Web

This raises questions about how populations became separated or whether undiscovered connections or dispersal routes exist. — Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026

And with that the show is done, Melanie withdraws, all understand that Circle’s circle is complete—no stomping or calling for an encore—and an orderly dispersal of Cry Babies begins. — Matt Thompson, SPIN, 13 July 2026

About half of the arrests were people who remained on the Peninsula after police issued a dispersal order, authorities said. — Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026

The Israeli military told NPR that during an operation in Nablus, Palestinians had thrown rocks at the soldiers who responded with what the military called crowd-dispersal measures and later with live fire. — Ruth Sherlock, NPR, 26 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1821, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for dispersal

• rehearsal
• reversal
• transversal
• traversal
• bursal
• versal
• universal

Kids 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