disorder

[dis-awr-der]

noun

1. lack of order or regular arrangement; confusion.

   Your room is in utter disorder.

   Synonyms: clutter, litter, jumble, disarray, disorderliness

2. an irregularity.

   a disorder in legal proceedings.

3. breach of order; disorderly conduct; public disturbance.

   Synonyms: turbulence, riot

4. a disturbance in physical or mental health or functions; malady or dysfunction.

   a mild stomach disorder.

   Synonyms: indisposition, sickness, complaint, illness, malady, ailment

verb (used with object)

1. to destroy the order or regular arrangement of; disarrange.

   Synonyms: disorganize, disarray

2. to derange the physical or mental health or functions of.

   Synonyms: confuse, upset, disturb

disorder

/ dɪsˈɔːdə /

noun

1. a lack of order; disarray; confusion

2. a disturbance of public order or peace

3. an upset of health; ailment

4. a deviation from the normal system or order

verb

1. to upset the order of; disarrange; muddle

2. to disturb the health or mind of

Other Word Forms

• predisorder noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of disorder¹

First recorded in 1470–80; dis- ¹ + order

Synonym Study

Disorder, brawl, disturbance, uproar are disruptions or interruptions of a peaceful situation. Disorder refers to civil unrest or to any scene in which there is confusion or fighting: The police went to the scene of the disorder. A brawl is a noisy, unseemly quarrel, usually in a public place: a tavern brawl. A disturbance is disorder of a size as to inconvenience people: to cause a disturbance. An uproar is a tumult, a bustle and clamor of many voices, often because of a disturbance: a mighty uproar.

Example Sentences

Obstructive sleep apnea is a chronic disorder that can cause a person’s airway to be repeatedly blocked during sleep.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“Studies have shown that there is no link between receiving vaccines and developing autism spectrum disorder ... No links have been found between any vaccine ingredients and ASD.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

This is also the time when there is the greatest risk of mental health disorders beginning.

Read more on BBC

Weight-loss drugs remain a risk to the company’s core business, seeing as Inspire Medical caters to patients with obstructive sleep apnea, a breathing disorder frequently linked to obesity.

Read more on Barron's

These early disruptions may help explain why hypertension is strongly associated with cognitive disorders, including vascular cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease.

Read more on Science Daily

Related Words

• chaos 
• complication 
• disturbance 
• lawlessness 
• trouble 
• unrest