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

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

Perplexity is one of Silicon Valley's hottest startups, whose AI-powered search engine is often mentioned as a potential disruptor to Google.

From Barron's • Oct. 21, 2025

Godber, who served as artistic director of Hull Truck from 1983 until 2010, described his predecessor as a "maverick and a disruptor" who would be "sorely missed".

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2025

They were rope, so he wouldn't have to risk even low-power disruptor fire; he sawed through them, then laid the Ranger as gently as he could on the back seat.

From Hostage A Terran Empire story by Wilson, Ann