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disrupt

[dis-ruhpt]
verb (used with object)
  1. to cause disorder or turmoil in: The news disrupted their conference.
  2. to destroy, usually temporarily, the normal continuance or unity of; interrupt: Telephone service was disrupted for hours.
  3. to break apart: to disrupt a connection.
  4. Business. to radically change (an industry, business strategy, etc.), as by introducing a new product or service that creates a new market: It’s time to disrupt your old business model.
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adjective
  1. broken apart; disrupted.
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Origin of disrupt

1650–60; < Latin disruptus (variant of dīruptus, past participle of dīrumpere; dī- di-2 + rumpere to break), equivalent to dis- dis-1 + rup- break + -tus past participle suffix
Related formsdis·rupt·er, dis·rup·tor, nounnon·dis·rupt·ing, adjectivenon·dis·rupt·ing·ly, adverbun·dis·rupt·ed, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

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British Dictionary definitions for disruptor

disrupt

verb
  1. (tr) to throw into turmoil or disorder
  2. (tr) to interrupt the progress of (a movement, meeting, etc)
  3. to break or split (something) apart
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Derived Formsdisrupter or disruptor, noundisruption, noun

Word Origin

C17: from Latin disruptus burst asunder, from dīrumpere to dash to pieces, from dis- 1 + rumpere to burst
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for disruptor

disrupt

v.

1650s, but rare before c.1820, from Latin disruptus, past participle of disrumpere (see disruption). Or perhaps a back-formation from disruption. Related: Disrupted; disrupting.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper