Jump To:

• disappointment
  disappointment

  noun

  the act or fact of disappointing.
• Disappointment
  Disappointment

  noun

  Cape Disappointment, a cape in southwestern Washington State, projecting into the Pacific Ocean on the north of the mouth of the Columbia River.

disappointment

¹ American  

[dis-uh-point-muhnt] / ˌdɪs əˈpɔɪnt mənt /

noun

disappointments plural

1. the act or fact of disappointing.

   All of his efforts only led to the disappointment of his supporters.

   Synonyms:

   frustration, defeat, failure

2. the state or feeling of being disappointed.

   Her disappointment was very great when she didn't get the job.

3. a person or thing that disappoints.

   The play was a disappointment.

---

Disappointment ² American  

[dis-uh-point-muhnt] / ˌdɪs əˈpɔɪnt mənt /

noun

1. Cape Disappointment, a cape in southwestern Washington State, projecting into the Pacific Ocean on the north of the mouth of the Columbia River.

---

disappointment British  

/ ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪntmənt /

noun

1. the act of disappointing or the state of being disappointed

2. a person, thing, or state of affairs that disappoints

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• predisappointment
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• disappointments
  plural

Etymology

Origin of disappointment

First recorded in 1605–15; disappoint + -ment

Explanation

A disappointment is what happens when things don't go your way. That sad, frustrated feeling of loss that follows? It's also called disappointment. The noun disappointment comes from the Middle French word disappointer, meaning “undo the appointment,” or “remove from office.” It is true that a friend canceling your plans or losing your job is a disappointment, but today disappointment can describe anything that crushes your hopes, ruins your day, or otherwise lets you down.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

disappointment Disappointment disappointments

Even so, they think that investors have low expectations for ANZ’s revenue and market-share growth, and see less potential for disappointment than at other large lenders.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026

If care is unpredictable or emotionally distant, you may develop strategies designed to protect yourself from disappointment or distress.

From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026

Emily outlined how she recovered from her disappointment of finishing fourth to clinch her bronze.

From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026

“The knee jerk is likely disappointment, given the lack of acceleration in both billed business and revenue growth,” Foran said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026

Some of the women who’d volunteered for her aviation regiments were going to have to face disappointment, because they were going to have to do jobs that kept them on the ground.

From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein

"Disappointment in returns could trigger a sudden pullback in financing and turn the capex boom into a protracted investment bust, with potential knock-on effects on financial conditions," it said in its annual report.

From Barron's ● Jun. 29, 2026

Disappointment is a familiar feeling when it comes to Find a Grave.

From Slate ● Oct. 24, 2024

Disappointment for the Brighton forward although the penalty decision did look a bit harsh, with Dara O'Shea striking the ball against Arthur Vermeeren's arm from close range.

From BBC ● Mar. 22, 2024

Cape Disappointment State Park — the name alone will intrigue kids — features year-round camping for the adventurous family or cabins, yurts and historic lightkeeper’s residences for the less so.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 27, 2023

Disappointment is building in me, and impatience; and then anxiety.

From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood

At an estate nestled in New York’s Hudson Valley, a group of high achievers gathered to talk about the sacrifices and disappointments that can come with success.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026

As the country celebrates 250 years since independence, many Americans and immigrants know the daily reality of chasing that dream -- through countless disappointments and endless striving.

From Barron's ● Jul. 1, 2026

For every “Bridget Jones’s Diary,” “Fire Island” or “Clueless,” disappointments also crowd the TV and movie landscape.

From Salon ● Jun. 25, 2026

They don't carry the years of missed qualifications or even the recent disappointments at the Euros.

From BBC ● Jun. 14, 2026

As the swing cricked a hundred cricks, Cat thought about the summer and all the disappointments and surprises it had brought her.

From "Caterpillar Summer" by Gillian McDunn

Related Words

• adversity
• blow
• chagrin
• defeat
• discontent
• disenchantment
• disillusionment
• dissatisfaction
• failure
• frustration
• letdown
• regret
• setback