chaos
Americannoun
-
a state of utter confusion or disorder; a total lack of organization or order.
-
any confused, disorderly mass.
a chaos of meaningless phrases.
-
the infinity of space or formless matter supposed to have preceded the existence of the ordered universe.
-
(initial capital letter) the personification of this in any of several ancient Greek myths.
-
Obsolete. a chasm or abyss.
noun
-
complete disorder; utter confusion
-
(usually capital) the disordered formless matter supposed to have existed before the ordered universe
-
an obsolete word for abyss
-
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.
-
See more at fractal
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of chaos
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin, Greek cháos; akin to chasm, yawn, gape
Explanation
Chaos is a state of extreme confusion and disorder. Putting a dozen dogs and a dozen cats in the same room would probably lead to utter chaos. The word chaos derives from a Greek word meaning "chasm" or "void," which makes sense, given that chaos also refers to the formless state of matter before the cosmos was created. In math and science, chaos describes a system that will develop in wildly different ways with only tiny changes to the initial conditions. "Controlled chaos" is a phrase often used casually to describe something that looks out of control but which functions according to unseen rules or organization.
Vocabulary lists containing chaos
Mayhem! Chaos! Pandemonium!
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet," Vocabulary from Act 1
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
It is indicative of the chaos of cricket's schedule that this was probably still the least disruptive option.
From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026
"I still feel I reacted too slowly. I should have shouted to warn everyone, but everything happened so fast and there was so much chaos that I didn't have time."
From Barron's ● Jul. 13, 2026
Now there are fears that as Wagner digs deeper into Bangui, it will add to the chaos already engulfing the wider region, said Dukhan, the researcher.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 12, 2026
It is cold little chaos, packaged in cardboard and frost.
From Salon ● Jul. 11, 2026
The seabirds scattered into the sky, but the robot and the geese couldn’t stop staring at the chaos on the station.
From "The Wild Robot Protects" by Peter Brown
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.
