dispersal
noun
dis·pers·al
di-ˈspər-səl 
: the act or result of dispersing
especially
: the process or result of the spreading of organisms from one place to another
Examples of dispersal in a Sentence
the dispersal of plant seeds in the forests through natural means
Recent Examples on the Web
Police should give demonstrators clear instructions concerning the dispersal order before they are arrested or charged with any crime, according to ACLU.
—
Hannah Hudnall, IndyStar, 26 Mar. 2026
The formation and dispersal of clouds was the subject of Lamarck’s first remarks before the Royal Academy of Sciences.
—Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
Police may shut down a protest through a dispersal order, according to the ACLU, but it must be used as a last resort in situations where there is a clear and present danger of riot, disorder or interference with traffic, as well as any other immediate threats to public safety.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 24 Mar. 2026
With concern growing for what could happen if the carp reach the Great Lakes, the Army Corps of Engineers began operating an electric dispersal barrier in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal in 2002, to prevent the fish from spreading into the channel and into the Great Lakes.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 21 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dispersal
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Hannah Hudnall, IndyStar, 26 Mar. 2026
The formation and dispersal of clouds was the subject of Lamarck’s first remarks before the Royal Academy of Sciences.
—Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
Police may shut down a protest through a dispersal order, according to the ACLU, but it must be used as a last resort in situations where there is a clear and present danger of riot, disorder or interference with traffic, as well as any other immediate threats to public safety.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 24 Mar. 2026
With concern growing for what could happen if the carp reach the Great Lakes, the Army Corps of Engineers began operating an electric dispersal barrier in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal in 2002, to prevent the fish from spreading into the channel and into the Great Lakes.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 21 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dispersal
Cite this Entry
“Dispersal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dispersal. Accessed 28 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
dispersal
noun
dis·pers·al
dis-ˈpər-səl
: the act or result of dispersing
Medical Definition
dispersal
noun
dis·pers·al
dis-ˈpər-səl
: the act or result of dispersing
specifically
: the process or result of the spreading of organisms from one place to another
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