disaffected
Americanadjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of disaffected
Explanation
The adjective disaffected describes someone who is dissatisfied or rebellious. Usually if you're disaffected, you're upset with people in authority. You and your fellow disaffected workers might become so upset about the lack of raises that you decided to boycott work. You might have heard the term "disaffected youth," which refers to young people rebelling against some aspect of society. For example, disaffected youth might fight against their lack of political freedom. Disaffected can also be used to describe things rather than people, like the disaffected lyrics in a song or the disaffected mood of a poem describing an unhappy or bitter state of mind. The word disaffected comes from disaffect, meaning "estranged, hostile."
Vocabulary lists containing disaffected
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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300 Most Difficult "SAT" Words
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Treasure Island
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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 race has become a test of strategy: Crockett argues her combative style will energize turnout, while Talarico presents himself as a bridge to moderates and disaffected Republicans.
From Barron's • Mar. 3, 2026
Protesters who filled the streets in recent weeks - and withdrew only under overwhelming force - remain deeply disaffected.
From BBC • Feb. 19, 2026
Kevin Smith’s “Clerks” chronicles a day in the life of disaffected staffers at a convenience store and adjoining video-rental store.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 29, 2025
YouTube TV also benefited by attracting disaffected customers from DirecTV, Charter Spectrum and Comcast.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 3, 2025
At the same time, the National Party was throwing open its doors to nonwhites and was busily recruiting disaffected Coloureds and Indians.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
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.
