dislocation

American  

[dis-loh-key-shuhn] / ˌdɪs loʊˈkeɪ ʃən /

noun

1. an act or instance of dislocating.

2. the state of being dislocated.

3. Crystallography. (in a crystal lattice) a line about which there is a discontinuity in the lattice structure.

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dislocation British  

/ ˌdɪsləˈkeɪʃən /

noun

1. the act of displacing or the state of being displaced; disruption

2. (esp of the bones in a joint) the state or condition of being dislocated

3. a line, plane, or region in which there is a discontinuity in the regularity of a crystal lattice

4. geology a less common word for fault

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Etymology

Origin of dislocation

1350–1400; Middle English dislocacioun; dislocate, -ion

Compare meaning

How does dislocation compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• subluxation vs. dislocation

Explanation

Abruptly moving something (or someone) out of its usual place is dislocation. Cutting down the oak tree in your back yard will cause the dislocation of the birds that always build their nests in it. The word dislocation has several different meanings, but they all have something to do with displacement, moving something from its proper place. A joint dislocation happens when a bone is moved (painfully) out of its normal spot: "A common trampoline injury is elbow dislocation." Human dislocation can occur during war, or after a natural disaster forces people to move away from their homes. The Latin root is dislocare, "put out of place."

Example Sentences

Psychological trauma, social fragmentation, and economic dislocation are persistent scars that can span generations.

From Salon • Mar. 25, 2026

But at the same time, I see this market dislocation, right?

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 16, 2026

“A short-term dislocation in oil is OK — markets historically bounce back,” Goldman said.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 8, 2026

The dislocation in the market for liquefied natural gas—the backbone of Europe and Asia’s electricity and heating supplies—has the potential to be even worse.

From Barron's • Mar. 6, 2026

My dislocation is a gift that keeps on giving.

From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman

Related Words

• confusion
• disarray
• disconnection
• disorder
• disruption
• disturbance