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Synonyms

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
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.

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
disposal Idioms  

  1. see put at someone's disposal.

Etymology

Origin of disposal1

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

Origin of disposal2

Short for garbage-disposal; disposal 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The company has a large data set at its disposal, according to Bidgoli.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

The fecal disposal system, in a separate conduit, is working properly.

From Barron's • Apr. 9, 2026

It is important to us to show that trillionaires, with all the time, research, planning and money at their disposal, built the bunker.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2026

These aren’t kitchen-sink movies; they’re garbage disposal rejects, alloys composed of leftover scraps.

From Salon • Mar. 29, 2026

The drink was yours, and you could give it up: but your lover’s soul was not your own: it was not at your disposal; you had a duty towards it.

From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.