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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.

See Examples For:

York, 45, pleaded no contest to charges of disorderly conduct and possessing criminal tools, Columbiana County Municipal Court records show.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 24, 2026

Two Portuguese and a British man were arrested on Friday following a fight at the Champions League fan festival site and charged with disorderly conduct.

From BBC ● May 30, 2026

Lil Tjay was arrested on charges including disorderly conduct in Florida.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 24, 2026

Cipriani ultimately only pleaded guilty to misdemeanor disorderly conduct.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 20, 2026

Charged with disorderly conduct, she paid a fine and her case was dismissed.

From "Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice" by Phillip Hoose

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.

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