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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:

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

He and three others were charged with disorderly conduct and obstruction.

From BBC Mar. 9, 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

In the six months of the fair the Columbian Guard made only 2,929 arrests, about sixteen per day, typically for disorderly conduct, petty theft, and pickpocketing, with pickpockets most favoring the fair’s always-crowded aquarium.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson

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