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

By 1925 most countries had recovered from the economic disruptions caused by the Great War of 1914-18.

—John A. Garraty

Synonyms

• disturbance
• dislocation

Examples 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

Unexplained drone overflights have caused two nights of airport disruptions. —David Brennan, ABC News, 25 Sep. 2025

Big Oil giant Shell accused Venture Global of deceit—not disruption—in a contract dispute. —Jordan Blum, Fortune, 25 Sep. 2025

Some faced disruptions while attempting to enter stadiums using tickets in the app, and many more got notices to update their account information. —Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 24 Sep. 2025

Any disruptions in the merging of the SDF into the Syrian state raises the risk of an ISIS resurgence. —Chris Massaro, FOXNews.com, 24 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1622, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for disruption

• corruption
• eruption
• irruption
• incorruption
• interruption

Medical 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

disrupt

dis-ˈrəpt 

transitive verb