disposal
1 Americannoun
-
an act or instance of disposing; arrangement.
the disposal of the troops.
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a disposing of or getting rid of something.
the disposal of waste material.
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a disposing or allotting of, as by gift or sale; bestowal or assignment.
She left no will to indicate the disposal of her possessions.
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power or right to dispose of a thing; control.
left at his disposal.
- Synonyms:
- management, direction, command
noun
noun
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the act or means of getting rid of something
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placement or arrangement in a particular order
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a specific method of tending to matters, as in business
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the act or process of transferring something to or providing something for another
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the power or opportunity to make use of someone or something (esp in the phrase at one's disposal )
-
a means of destroying waste products, as by grinding into particles
Etymology
Origin of disposal1
First recorded in 1620–30; dispose + -al 2
Origin of disposal2
Short for garbage-disposal; see disposal 1
Explanation
Disposal means getting rid of something, or throwing it away. When you go on a picnic, be sure to have a bag for the disposal of your trash afterward, or you will be a terrible litterbug. You can use a garbage disposal, a grinder in your sink drain that allows you to wash down certain waste items without causing clogs, for the disposal of vegetable scraps. In addition to meaning "getting rid of something," disposal can also mean "the power or means to accomplish something." If you have a fleet of limousines at your disposal, it's easy to get a large number of guests to a wedding.
Vocabulary lists containing disposal
And Then There Were None
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Beowulf vocabulary
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Prisoner B-3087
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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.
Another option would focus on safely retiring Hubble when its scientific work is complete, either by guiding it through a controlled descent into Earth's atmosphere or arranging for its disposal in orbit.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 4, 2026
In Rome, sources at Fiumicino airport told the BBC police bomb disposal experts carried out standard security protocols to ensure the safety of all passengers and crew.
From BBC ● Nov. 3, 2026
The company’s latest land disposal in Selangor is expected to generate a one-off gain of 586.3 million ringgit upon completion in 1Q next year, while the proceeds could help reduce debt, she adds.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026
As I was working on this article, our garbage disposal started leaking swamp water to the tune of $750.
From Slate ● Oct. 28, 2026
Another major resource that English puts at a writer’s disposal is the choice of verb.
From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
