chaos
Americannoun
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a state of utter confusion or disorder; a total lack of organization or order.
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any confused, disorderly mass.
a chaos of meaningless phrases.
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the infinity of space or formless matter supposed to have preceded the existence of the ordered universe.
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(initial capital letter) the personification of this in any of several ancient Greek myths.
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Obsolete. a chasm or abyss.
noun
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complete disorder; utter confusion
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(usually capital) the disordered formless matter supposed to have existed before the ordered universe
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an obsolete word for abyss
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The behavior of systems that follow deterministic laws but appear random and unpredictable. Chaotic systems very are sensitive to initial conditions; small changes in those conditions can lead to quite different outcomes. One example of chaotic behavior is the flow of air in conditions of turbulence.
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See more at fractal
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of chaos
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin, Greek cháos; akin to chasm, yawn, gape
Explanation
Chaos is a state of extreme confusion and disorder. Putting a dozen dogs and a dozen cats in the same room would probably lead to utter chaos. The word chaos derives from a Greek word meaning "chasm" or "void," which makes sense, given that chaos also refers to the formless state of matter before the cosmos was created. In math and science, chaos describes a system that will develop in wildly different ways with only tiny changes to the initial conditions. "Controlled chaos" is a phrase often used casually to describe something that looks out of control but which functions according to unseen rules or organization.
Vocabulary lists containing chaos
Mayhem! Chaos! Pandemonium!
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"The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet," Vocabulary from Act 1
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Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie
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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.
They are interested in chaos, as their actions make perfectly clear.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 1, 2026
What we see isn’t gratuitous government cruelty, chaos or vengeance.
From Salon • May 28, 2026
“GKN leadership must answer directly to the community for the chaos and disruption this crisis has caused.”
From Los Angeles Times • May 28, 2026
It's 1-0 to Bayern in added time when Peter Schmeichel arrives in the box to cause chaos.
From BBC • May 28, 2026
The spilled beets had stopped all the other traffic, and in the chaos and distraction, her driver had found an opening and gotten them through.
From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
