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

• 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

What began as a school assignment has evolved into a potential life-saving tool for explosive ordnance disposal teams across the Defense Department. —Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 12 Sep. 2025

In 1974, horticulturist David Bedford came upon four trees marked for disposal in Block 53 of the University of Minnesota Horticultural Research Center, a vast orchard with ~7k seedlings. —Mark Dent, HubSpot, 12 Sep. 2025

Try dropping these items at a local hazardous waste disposal site. —Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Sep. 2025

And now, with the advent of generative artificial intelligence (AI), terrorists have yet another tool at their disposal. —Richard Frankel, ABC News, 11 Sep. 2025

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