disruption
noun
dis·rup·tion
dis-ˈrəp-shən 
plural disruptions
: the act or process of disrupting something : a break or interruption in the normal course or continuation of some activity, process, etc.
disruption of sleep
disruptions in service
a process that has continued without disruption
Throughout the history of medicine, health has been seen as a condition of equilibrium and illness as the disruption of a balanced state.—
David Mechanic
David MechanicBy 1925 most countries had recovered from the economic disruptions caused by the Great War of 1914-18.—John A. Garraty
John A. GarratyExamples of disruption in a Sentence
the flat tire resulted in an unfortunate disruption of the schedule for our road trip
Recent Examples on the Web
These storms can cause intermittent satellite navigation issues and high-frequency radio disruptions, as well as voltage corrections in power systems, particularly at high latitudes.
—Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 6 Nov. 2025
Airports particularly affected at that time included San Francisco International Airport (SFO) in California (56 disruptions), Miami International Airport (MIA) in Florida (36) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in California (28).
—Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
The software, called VenApp, was originally launched by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in 2022 as a hybrid application, integrating a messaging service with a helpline for people to report issues with utility services, such as power outages and water disruptions.
—Stefano Pozzebon, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2025
Maintaining hydration during nonstandard work hours is crucial for good health and minimizing the adverse effects of circadian rhythm disruption.
—Pamela Assid, Verywell Health, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for disruption
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Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 6 Nov. 2025
Airports particularly affected at that time included San Francisco International Airport (SFO) in California (56 disruptions), Miami International Airport (MIA) in Florida (36) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in California (28).
—Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
The software, called VenApp, was originally launched by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in 2022 as a hybrid application, integrating a messaging service with a helpline for people to report issues with utility services, such as power outages and water disruptions.
—Stefano Pozzebon, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2025
Maintaining hydration during nonstandard work hours is crucial for good health and minimizing the adverse effects of circadian rhythm disruption.
—Pamela Assid, Verywell Health, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for disruption
Cite this Entry
“Disruption.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disruption. Accessed 10 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
disruption
noun
dis·rup·tion
dis-ˈrəp-shən
: the act or process of breaking apart or rupturing
bandaged her leg tightly to prevent disruption of the partly healed wound
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