dislocation

American  

[dis-loh-key-shuhn] / ˌdɪs loʊˈkeɪ ʃən /

noun

1. an act or instance of dislocating.

2. the state of being dislocated.

3. Crystallography. (in a crystal lattice) a line about which there is a discontinuity in the lattice structure.

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dislocation British  

/ ˌdɪsləˈkeɪʃən /

noun

1. the act of displacing or the state of being displaced; disruption

2. (esp of the bones in a joint) the state or condition of being dislocated

3. a line, plane, or region in which there is a discontinuity in the regularity of a crystal lattice

4. geology a less common word for fault

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Etymology

Origin of dislocation

1350–1400; Middle English dislocacioun; see dislocate, -ion

Compare meaning

How does dislocation compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• subluxation vs. dislocation

Explanation

Abruptly moving something (or someone) out of its usual place is dislocation. Cutting down the oak tree in your back yard will cause the dislocation of the birds that always build their nests in it. The word dislocation has several different meanings, but they all have something to do with displacement, moving something from its proper place. A joint dislocation happens when a bone is moved (painfully) out of its normal spot: "A common trampoline injury is elbow dislocation." Human dislocation can occur during war, or after a natural disaster forces people to move away from their homes. The Latin root is dislocare, "put out of place."

Example Sentences

That chorus has grown quiet in recent decades, muted by offshoring, automation and economic dislocation.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 14, 2026

At this very moment, we can see political leaders as different as Magyar, Mayor Zohran Mamdani of New York and Gov. JB Pritzker of Illinois trying to break through this sense of dislocation.

From Salon • Apr. 19, 2026

The recent private-credit market dislocation prompted ratings provider Moody’s Ratings to change its outlook for the business development companies sector to negative from stable to reflect increased redemption pressures.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

“Periods of market dislocation have historically created some of the most attractive opportunities in direct lending,” Ares said.

From Barron's • Mar. 25, 2026

But there were also moments of dislocation, staring at my changing body.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides

Related Words

• confusion
• disarray
• disconnection
• disorder
• disruption
• disturbance