chaos

[key-os]

noun

1. a state of utter confusion or disorder; a total lack of organization or order.

   Synonyms: tumult, turmoil, jumble, disarray
   Antonyms: calm, peace, order

2. any confused, disorderly mass.

   a chaos of meaningless phrases.

3. the infinity of space or formless matter supposed to have preceded the existence of the ordered universe.

4. (initial capital letter),  the personification of this in any of several ancient Greek myths.

5. Obsolete.,  a chasm or abyss.

chaos

/ ˈkeɪɒs, keɪˈɒtɪk /

noun

1. complete disorder; utter confusion

2. (usually capital) the disordered formless matter supposed to have existed before the ordered universe

3. an obsolete word for abyss

chaos

1. The behavior of systems that follow deterministic laws but appear random and unpredictable. Chaotic systems very are sensitive to initial conditions; small changes in those conditions can lead to quite different outcomes. One example of chaotic behavior is the flow of air in conditions of turbulence.

2. See more at fractal

chaos

1. A new branch of science that deals with systems whose evolution depends very sensitively upon the initial conditions. Turbulent flows of fluids (such as white water in a river) and the prediction of the weather are two areas where chaos theory has been applied with some success.

Other Word Forms

• chaotic adjective
• chaotically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of chaos¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin, Greek cháos; akin to chasm, yawn, gape

Word History and Origins

Origin of chaos¹

C15: from Latin, from Greek khaos; compare _chasm , yawn

Example Sentences

Chancellor Rachel Reeves's Budget was thrown into chaos when the OBR's forecast - which contained the measures she was about to announce - was discovered online.

Read more on BBC

In November 2015, solar activity disrupted air traffic control, leading to chaos in Sweden and some other European airports.

Read more on BBC

Throughout his career as college football’s premier chaos agent, he has shown a greater knack for getting fired and making enemies than winning titles.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But the way Stoppard incorporates mathematical concepts as rarefied as fractal geometry to explore concepts of order and chaos as the characters hypothesize on the patterns of time is Stoppardian through and through.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Asmaa al-Ladaa wants to set up an account so that she can receive money directly from her relatives living outside Gaza."The whole process is just chaos and crowds," she says.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• anarchy 
• disarray 
• discord 
• disorder 
• lawlessness 
• pandemonium 
• tumult 
• turmoil