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

Those that succeed will not only weather future disruptions but lead the next wave of semiconductor innovation and growth. —Umesh Kumar Sharma, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025

Her sister Jessica Jeffers was also coincidentally impacted by the disruption Wednesday night, but at a Denver airport. —Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2025

The road work has caused disruptions to businesses to varying degrees along the busy commercial corridor because of the difficulty customers have driving there. —John Tuohy, IndyStar, 7 Aug. 2025

The exact timing of the disruption is unclear, so the potential aurora borealis could be visible any time between 11pm on Aug. 7 through Aug. 9. —Staff Author, Travel + Leisure, 7 Aug. 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