disruptor

American  

[dis-ruhpt-er] / dɪsˈrʌpt ər /

noun

1. a product, company, or person that disrupts an industry or market, upsetting the established order; an agent of change or confusion.

2. a substance that disrupts a physiological process or agent.

3. a person who disrupts a process, group, or event, such as by making noise or physically interfering.

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Example Sentences

On the one hand, it’s true that Spirit was more of a disruptor than JetBlue, and you don’t want a disruptor to go away.

From Slate • May 5, 2026

Spirit had been a disruptor in the U.S. airline market, appealing to a cost-conscious consumer base and pressuring traditional airlines to reconsider their pricing strategies.

From MarketWatch • May 2, 2026

Until recently, he was seen as a disruptor who upended the industry’s long-standing business models, especially its reliance on the big screen.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 5, 2025

In nominating Driscoll as his army secretary, Trump wrote he had a "powerful combination of experiences to serve as a disruptor and change agent".

From BBC • Nov. 25, 2025

Even the Emperor's private landing pad near the Palace wall could be covered by a heavy disruptor cannon.

From Fearful Symmetry A Terran Empire novel by Wilson, Ann