disposal

¹ American  

[dih-spoh-zuhl] / dɪˈspoʊ zəl /

noun

1. an act or instance of disposing; arrangement.

   the disposal of the troops.

2. a disposing of or getting rid of something.

   the disposal of waste material.

3. a disposing or allotting of, as by gift or sale; bestowal or assignment.

   She left no will to indicate the disposal of her possessions.

4. power or right to dispose of a thing; control.

   left at his disposal.

   Synonyms:

   management, direction, command

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disposal ² American  

[dih-spoh-zuhl] / dɪˈspoʊ zəl /

noun

1. an electrical device in the drain of a sink, for grinding up garbage to be washed down the drain.

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disposal British  

/ dɪˈspəʊzəl /

noun

1. the act or means of getting rid of something

2. placement or arrangement in a particular order

3. a specific method of tending to matters, as in business

4. the act or process of transferring something to or providing something for another

5. the power or opportunity to make use of someone or something (esp in the phrase at one's disposal )

6. a means of destroying waste products, as by grinding into particles

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disposal Idioms  

1. see put at someone's disposal.

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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.

Example Sentences

The Artificial Grass Company Norfolk and Suffolk, however, defended the fake grass, claiming more plastic waste is produced by the disposal of household carpets.

From BBC • Apr. 24, 2026

Police said bomb disposal experts conducted the controlled detonation at 15:20 on Sunday.

From BBC • Apr. 19, 2026

“Those guys, to a large degree, already have that information at their disposal through the implied volatility in the options market.”

From Barron's • Apr. 15, 2026

The company has a large data set at its disposal, according to Bidgoli.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

She told him then that the time had come for him to seek his father, and a ship was placed at his disposal by his grandfather.

From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton

Related Words

• clearance
• demolition
• destruction
• disposition
• dumping
• removal
• transfer