disruptor

American

[dis-ruhpt-er] / dɪsˈrʌpt ər /

noun

a product, company, or person that disrupts an industry or market, upsetting the established order; an agent of change or confusion.
a substance that disrupts a physiological process or agent.
a person who disrupts a process, group, or event, such as by making noise or physically interfering.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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

Artificial intelligence isn’t another productivity tool; it’s the fastest labor-market disruptor in history.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 5, 2025

A promising disruptor off the edge is former USC standout Tuli Tuipulotu, who had 8½ sacks last season.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 31, 2025

He did so, slipping the heavy disruptor pistol into his belt.

From Hostage A Terran Empire story by Wilson, Ann

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023