disruption

American  

[dis-ruhp-shuhn] / dɪsˈrʌp ʃən /

noun

1. forcible separation or division into parts.

2. a disrupted condition.

   After the coup, the country was in disruption.

3. Business. a radical change in an industry, business strategy, etc., especially involving the introduction of a new product or service that creates a new market.

   Globalization and the rapid advance of technology are major causes of business disruption.

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Other Word Forms

• predisruption noun

Etymology

Origin of disruption

First recorded in 1640–50; from Latin disruptiōn-, stem of disruptiō; equivalent to disrupt + -ion

Explanation

A disruption is a major disturbance, something that changes your plans or interrupts some event or process. A screaming child on an airplane can be a disruption of the passengers' sleep. A break in the action, especially an unplanned and confusing one, is a disruption. A sudden thunderstorm is an unwelcome disruption of an outdoor wedding ceremony, and a flat tire on an elaborate float will probably cause a parade disruption. When you disrupt something, you upset it or mess it up. In Latin disrupt means "broken into pieces," from dis, "apart," and rumpere, "to break."

Example Sentences

It is understood the couple have opted not to do public meet-and-greets because they are keen to "minimise disruption" to the public and to host organisations.

From BBC • Apr. 13, 2026

Across the nation’s second-largest school district, families prepared for a disruption to the delicate balance of work, school and family schedules.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026

This dynamic was expected to disappear once the Strait of Hormuz disruption was resolved, but that timeline has become “increasingly uncertain following the newly announced U.S. naval blockade,” he added.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 13, 2026

A sustained disruption to shipping through Hormuz would further tighten regional supply and support price premiums, particularly given relatively lean inventories, analysts at the firm said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

But for many people life proceeded without too much disruption, except in the regions where the pitched battles were fought.

From "The Scientists" by John Gribbin

Related Words

• confusion
• disorder
• disturbance