dispersal

noun

dis·​pers·​al di-ˈspər-səl How to pronounce dispersal (audio)
Synonyms of dispersalnext
: 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
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.
The dispersal has turned what was once a singular feat of engineering into a kind of collectible series. Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 9 Apr. 2026 Police issued several dispersal orders before authorizing the use of force, which included deploying tear gas. Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2026 Many people in the Philadelphia region received an emergency alert Sunday night for a dispersal order stemming from a gathering at Bridgeport Speedway in South Jersey. Tom Ignudo, CBS News, 30 Mar. 2026 While most gatherings were reportedly peaceful, authorities and media reported clashes late in the day outside federal properties in Los Angeles and Portland, where police issued dispersal orders and made arrests after confrontations at sites associated with immigration enforcement and detention. Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dispersal

Word History

First Known Use

1821, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dispersal was in 1821

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dispersal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dispersal. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

dispersal

noun
dis·​pers·​al dis-ˈpər-səl How to pronounce dispersal (audio)
: the act or result of dispersing

Medical Definition

dispersal

noun
dis·​pers·​al dis-ˈpər-səl How to pronounce dispersal (audio)
: the act or result of dispersing
specifically : the process or result of the spreading of organisms from one place to another

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