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
Leaders who treat change not as a one-off initiative but as their most valuable product won’t just endure disruption—they’ll capitalize on it.
—Phil Gilbert, Fortune, 12 Nov. 2025
But for all its significance, this disruption wasn’t entirely unexpected.
—Peter D. Feaver, Foreign Affairs, 12 Nov. 2025
Muthiah said some of the area residents the food bank serves are pulling from their long-term savings and retirement accounts, and reconsidering where their children will go to college because of the disruption to their incomes and benefits.
—Ayana Archie, NPR, 12 Nov. 2025
How Americans are coping with travel woes Natalie Paris showed up at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on Monday not as a flight attendant but as a traveler, facing the same kind of disruptions she's spent weeks managing from the other side of the counter.
—Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 12 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for disruption
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Phil Gilbert, Fortune, 12 Nov. 2025
But for all its significance, this disruption wasn’t entirely unexpected.
—Peter D. Feaver, Foreign Affairs, 12 Nov. 2025
Muthiah said some of the area residents the food bank serves are pulling from their long-term savings and retirement accounts, and reconsidering where their children will go to college because of the disruption to their incomes and benefits.
—Ayana Archie, NPR, 12 Nov. 2025
How Americans are coping with travel woes Natalie Paris showed up at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on Monday not as a flight attendant but as a traveler, facing the same kind of disruptions she's spent weeks managing from the other side of the counter.
—Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 12 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 17 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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