disruption

noun

dis·​rup·​tion dis-ˈrəp-shən How to pronounce disruption (audio)
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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The breaches come as the air travel industry has been dealing with an onslaught of cyberattacks that have caused disruptions for customers and ground some of the world’s largest airports to a halt. Martin Goillandeau, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2025 Studies have already shown that pollination and plant growth cycles would be disrupted by the amount of light that Reflect Orbital satellites would produce, in addition to the disruptions of bird migrations and the behaviors of animals under both laboratory and wild conditions. Big Think, 15 Oct. 2025 Industrial expansion must be strategically located to minimize disruption. Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 15 Oct. 2025 At a time of uncertainty for the fashion and luxury sectors — still feeling the pinch of economic instability, geopolitical unrest and tariffs — retail is facing disruption and change across geographies. Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for disruption

Word History

First Known Use

1622, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of disruption was in 1622

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Disruption.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disruption. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.

Medical Definition

disruption

noun
dis·​rup·​tion dis-ˈrəp-shən How to pronounce disruption (audio)
: the act or process of breaking apart or rupturing
bandaged her leg tightly to prevent disruption of the partly healed wound
disrupt transitive verb

More from Merriam-Webster on disruption

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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