Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

disorderly conduct

American  

noun

Law.

  1. any of various petty misdemeanors, generally including nuisances, breaches of the peace, offensive or immoral conduct in public, etc.

disorderly conduct British  

noun

  1. law any of various minor offences tending to cause a disturbance of the peace

"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

Etymology

Origin of disorderly conduct

First recorded in 1885–90

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.

Cipriani ultimately only pleaded guilty to misdemeanor disorderly conduct.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

Eventually, Hendrix was charged with disorderly conduct misdemeanors, but only after she had already raised more than $800,000 on GiveSendGo.

From Slate • Dec. 10, 2025

By the end of the day, the Greene County Sheriff’s Department charged her and 15 other middle school cheerleaders with disorderly conduct for making and posting the video.

From Salon • Jul. 29, 2025

Lasota was arrested and charged with obstructing law enforcement and disorderly conduct in connection with the incident.

From BBC • Feb. 20, 2025

Failing to obtain a satisfactory answer, he refused to leave jail, whereupon police again remanded him to his cell upon a charge of disorderly conduct.

From "Native Son" by Richard Wright

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.