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Synonyms

disjointed

American  
[dis-join-tid] / dɪsˈdʒɔɪn tɪd /

adjective

  1. having the joints or connections separated.

    a disjointed fowl.

  2. disconnected; incoherent.

    a disjointed discourse.

    Synonyms:
    unorganized, chaotic, confused, rambling
  3. Entomology. disjunct.


disjointed British  
/ dɪsˈdʒɔɪntɪd /

adjective

  1. having no coherence; disconnected

  2. separated at the joint

  3. dislocated

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • disjointedly adverb
  • disjointedness noun
  • undisjointed adjective

Etymology

Origin of disjointed

First recorded in 1580–90; disjoint + -ed 2

Explanation

Disjointed isn’t when you can bend your thumb all the way backwards — that’s double-jointed. Disjointed means "unorganized" or "disconnected." Disjointed is an adjective that describes something as disconnected, illogical, or just messed up. A disjointed argument is an argument that doesn’t make a lot of sense. The same can be said for a disjointed sentence or a disjointed speech. In a medical sense, disjointed means "dislocated," or “separated at the joint.” When someone gets injured, they may end up with a disjointed shoulder or a disjointed hip.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing disjointed

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.

To evoke the fractured psyche of the characters, Morrison’s narratives are highly disjointed, switching among different points of view and time periods with only the slimmest semantic clues offered for orientation.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 10, 2026

But our disjointed, patchwork healthcare-payment system is impossible to understand and out of control.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 26, 2026

A disjointed first half that featured Dent sitting out a long stretch while apparently not feeling well ended in far more upbeat fashion for the Bruins.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 14, 2026

Stephen Robinson's men were well worth their triumph, while Celtic still looked disjointed at best.

From BBC • Jan. 5, 2026

Radar answered me in the disjointed way of someone playing Resurrection.

From "Paper Towns" by John Green