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

The company’s demonstration program does not utilize radioactive material and aims to provide crucial data and operational experience to further the commercialization strategy for Deep Isolation’s deep borehole disposal technology. —Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 5 Feb. 2026

Hyland will be in the NBC Sports production truck with a lot of technology at his disposal, all the better to capture Super Bowl action that costs advertiser between $7 million and more than $10 million. —Brian Steinberg, Variety, 4 Feb. 2026

Complete the deep clean by running cold water for about 30 seconds while the disposal is running to help flush out any remaining debris. —Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 4 Feb. 2026

Solomon, also known as Ori Salomon, was arrested over the weekend and faces both state and federal charges, including felony disposal/discharge of hazardous waste in an unauthorized manner and allegedly violating his visa by possessing firearms. —Sasha Pezenik, ABC News, 4 Feb. 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