disposal

¹ American  

[dih-spoh-zuhl] / dɪˈspoʊ zəl /

noun

1. an act or instance of disposing; arrangement.

   the disposal of the troops.

2. a disposing of or getting rid of something.

   the disposal of waste material.

3. a disposing or allotting of, as by gift or sale; bestowal or assignment.

   She left no will to indicate the disposal of her possessions.

4. power or right to dispose of a thing; control.

   left at his disposal.

   Synonyms:

   management, direction, command

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disposal ² American  

[dih-spoh-zuhl] / dɪˈspoʊ zəl /

noun

1. an electrical device in the drain of a sink, for grinding up garbage to be washed down the drain.

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disposal British  

/ dɪˈspəʊzəl /

noun

1. the act or means of getting rid of something

2. placement or arrangement in a particular order

3. a specific method of tending to matters, as in business

4. the act or process of transferring something to or providing something for another

5. the power or opportunity to make use of someone or something (esp in the phrase at one's disposal )

6. a means of destroying waste products, as by grinding into particles

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disposal Idioms  

1. see put at someone's disposal.

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Etymology

Origin of disposal¹

First recorded in 1620–30; dispose + -al ²

Origin of disposal²

Short for garbage-disposal; see disposal ¹

Explanation

Disposal means getting rid of something, or throwing it away. When you go on a picnic, be sure to have a bag for the disposal of your trash afterward, or you will be a terrible litterbug. You can use a garbage disposal, a grinder in your sink drain that allows you to wash down certain waste items without causing clogs, for the disposal of vegetable scraps. In addition to meaning "getting rid of something," disposal can also mean "the power or means to accomplish something." If you have a fleet of limousines at your disposal, it's easy to get a large number of guests to a wedding.

Example Sentences

Meanwhile, AI hyperscalers are seeking the kind of power capacity Galaxy will soon have at its disposal.

From Barron's • Jun. 8, 2026

Officials had warned that when the neutralized chemical is transferred into sealed trucks for transport and disposal, people might smell a “fruity or plastic-like odor.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 6, 2026

However, a rate hike isn’t the only tool at the RBI’s disposal, and many analysts expect support for the rupee to take other forms.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026

Instead, it transforms the dispute into a visual narrative of dominance and disposal, an opponent not debated, but discarded.

From Salon • May 23, 2026

Shackleton had no choice but to telegraph the Admiralty and place the entire ship, crew, and stores at the Royal Navy’s disposal.

From "Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World" by Jennifer Armstrong

Related Words

• clearance
• demolition
• destruction
• disposition
• dumping
• removal
• transfer