dislocate

American  

[dis-loh-keyt, dis-loh-keyt] / ˈdɪs loʊˌkeɪt, dɪsˈloʊ keɪt /

verb (used with object)

dislocated, dislocating

1. to put out of place; put out of proper relative position; displace.

   The glacier dislocated great stones. The earthquake dislocated several buildings.

2. to put out of joint or out of position, as a limb or an organ.

3. to throw out of order; upset; disorder.

   Frequent strikes dislocated the economy.

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noun

1. Gymnastics.  a maneuver on the rings in which a gymnast in an inverted pike position turns over to swing down while pushing the arms out and turning them so that the palms are facing out when the body turns over.

dislocate British  

/ ˈdɪsləˌkeɪt /

verb

1. to disrupt or shift out of place or position

2. to displace (an organ or part) from its normal position, esp a bone from its joint

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Other Word Forms

• undislocated adjective

Etymology

Origin of dislocate

1595–1605; < Medieval Latin dislocātus (past participle of dislocāre ), equivalent to Latin dis- dis- ¹ + locātus placed; locate

Example Sentences

Wales captain Jac Morgan will miss the start of the 2026 Six Nations after dislocating his shoulder in the autumn series opener against Argentina at the start of November.

From BBC

Wales were without injured inspirational skipper Jac Morgan who dislocated his shoulder against Argentina.

From BBC

Waiting times came under the spotlight last week after it emerged a Queen's Park footballer with a dislocated knee waited nearly 10 hours for an ambulance.

From BBC

The 24-year-old uncharacteristically spilled several high balls early on, before being forced off in the closing stages with a dislocated finger.

From BBC

She said global copper markets are likely to “remain dislocated” until there is a final decision on tariffs.

From MarketWatch