disruptive
Americanadjective
-
causing, tending to cause, or caused by disruption; disrupting.
the disruptive effect of their rioting.
-
Business.
-
relating to or noting a new product, service, or idea that radically changes an industry or business strategy, especially by creating a new market and disrupting an existing one.
disruptive innovations such as the cell phone and the two-year community college.
-
relating to or noting a business executive or company that introduces or is receptive to such innovation.
disruptive CEOs with imagination and vision.
-
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of disruptive
Explanation
Anything disruptive is loud, chaotic, and disorderly. Disruptive things disturb people and upset the applecart. Have you ever heard a teacher tell a loud student "Stop being disruptive"? Things that are disruptive tend to disturb others. Kids whispering in class can be disruptive. A screaming baby on a plane can be disruptive. If you're trying to play baseball and it starts raining, that's disruptive as well. When you're trying to do something and a surprising event screws everything up, it can probably be described with the word disruptive.
Vocabulary lists containing disruptive
Make a Break for It: Rupt
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"Tinker v. Des Moines": Excerpts from Justice Fortas's Opinion
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Nothing But the Truth
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
As the world’s most important semiconductor hub, the threat of invasion or even just speculation about it would be extremely disruptive for markets.
From MarketWatch • May 18, 2026
Ahead of the strike, the police assured Kenyans that security measures would be in place and warned against any disruptive conduct.
From BBC • May 18, 2026
The flight from Melbourne was headed to Dallas on Friday when it was forced to make a stop-off in Papeete, the capital of French Polynesia, due to the disruptive passenger.
From Barron's • May 17, 2026
Banks said it could be "extremely disruptive" permitting every classroom departure that is requested but said "it's the only way".
From BBC • May 16, 2026
“This is more disruptive than you could know, Mr. Donnelly. If you want to run a picture of our team, you should show Victor. He’s our captain.”
From "Tangerine" by Edward Bloor
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.
