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

• dispersion
• scattering

Examples of dispersal in a Sentence

the dispersal of plant seeds in the forests through natural means

Recent Examples on the Web

Winds out of the northeast are bringing Canadian wildfire smoke over the entirety of Michigan − and high pressure and a stable layer of air is keeping the smoke near the surface and limiting dispersal. —Keith Matheny, Freep.com, 1 Aug. 2025

While the procession has ended, Broad Street remains temporarily closed to vehicles and trams as city officials manage the dispersal of attendees and begin restoring normal traffic flow. —Amanda Castro hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 July 2025

Congress, ultimately, would need to approve the dispersal of funds to taxpayers. —Mike Snider, The Courier-Journal, 2 July 2025

As part of the country's effort to fight screwworm encroachment, the USDA announced plans on June 18 to open a sterile fly dispersal facility in Texas, and invested $21 million in updating a plant in Mexico to produce sterile flies. —Karl Plume, USA Today, 1 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1821, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for dispersal

• demersal
• 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