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

Whether or not the hype is to be believed, solid-state technology is coming—and it’s a potential disruptor for the entire EV industry.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

You want to be a disruptor for reasons of progression, but you’re not able to.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 19, 2026

Oil prices spiked anew on Thursday after Iran ramped up its strikes on infrastructure in the Gulf, with the International Energy Agency saying the conflict has been a historical disruptor of supply.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 12, 2026

Growth in India's IT back offices is slowing, stocks are underperforming, hiring has shrunk and wages have stagnated as the spectre of a new disruptor looms large.

From BBC • Dec. 10, 2025

Scrambling to his feet, he grabbed the disruptor and moved cautiously toward the entrance—then dropped it to his side as he realized the light was morning sun, not rebel field-illuminants.

From Hostage A Terran Empire story by Wilson, Ann