disposal

noun

dis·​pos·​al di-ˈspō-zəl 

1

: the power or authority to make use of as one chooses : the power or authority to dispose of something

The car was at my disposal.

2

: the act or process of disposing: such as

a

: orderly placement or distribution

the disposal of troops along the ridge

b

: regulation, administration

c

: the act or action of presenting or bestowing (see bestow sense 4) something

disposal of favors

the disposal of property

d

: systematic destruction

especially : destruction or transformation of garbage

trash disposal

the disposal of nuclear waste

3

[garbage disposal unit] : a device used to reduce waste matter (as by grinding)

putting food scraps down the disposal

Synonyms of disposal

• removal
• dumping

Examples of disposal in a Sentence

the disposal of nuclear waste

trash disposal is on Wednesday in our neighborhood

Recent Examples on the Web

Residents were evacuated from 85 homes in the village of Whelford near the base on Sunday, and army bomb-disposal experts used a robot to examine three white vans. — Alastair Grant, Arkansas Online, 29 Sep. 2026

To combat this issue, trim phlox plants in the fall and carefully dispose of any diseased leaves, either by burning or bagging them for trash disposal to prevent spreading the fungus. — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Sep. 2026

Residents were evacuated from 85 homes in the village of Whelford near the base Sunday, and army bomb-disposal experts used a robot to examine three white vans. — Alastair Grant, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2026

Explosive ordnance disposal teams were sent to inspect the vehicles, while authorities evacuated 85 homes in nearby Whelford as a precaution. — Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 28 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1630, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing disposal

• at someone's disposal
• garbage disposal
• waste disposal unit

Rhymes for disposal

• petrosal
• proposal
• serosal
• counterproposal

Kids Definition

disposal

noun

dis·​pos·​al dis-ˈpō-zəl 

1

: the right or power to use or control something : command

funds at our disposal

2

: an orderly arrangement

the disposal of troops for battle

3

: a getting rid of or putting out of the way

trash disposal

4

: management sense 1, administration

5

: the transfer of something to a new owner

a disposal of property