definitions

disrupt

[ dis-ruhpt ]
/ dɪsˈrʌpt /
|

verb (used with object)

to cause disorder or turmoil in: The news disrupted their conference.
to destroy, usually temporarily, the normal continuance or unity of; interrupt: Telephone service was disrupted for hours.
to break apart: to disrupt a connection.
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.

adjective

broken apart; disrupted.

Nearby words

disrespect, disrespectable, disrespectful, disrobe, disroot, disrupt, disruption, disruptive, disruptive discharge, disrupture, diss

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 forms

dis·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. 2019

Examples from the Web for disruptor

British Dictionary definitions for disruptor

disrupt

/ (dɪsˈrʌpt) /

verb

(tr) to throw into turmoil or disorder
(tr) to interrupt the progress of (a movement, meeting, etc)
to break or split (something) apart

Derived Forms

disrupter or disruptor, noundisruption, noun

Word Origin for disrupt

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