disorder

[dis-awr-der]

noun

1. lack of order or regular arrangement; confusion.

   Your room is in utter disorder.

   Synonyms: clutter, litter, jumble, disarray, disorderliness

2. an irregularity.

   a disorder in legal proceedings.

3. breach of order; disorderly conduct; public disturbance.

   Synonyms: turbulence, riot

4. a disturbance in physical or mental health or functions; malady or dysfunction.

   a mild stomach disorder.

   Synonyms: indisposition, sickness, complaint, illness, malady, ailment

verb (used with object)

1. to destroy the order or regular arrangement of; disarrange.

   Synonyms: disorganize, disarray

2. to derange the physical or mental health or functions of.

   Synonyms: confuse, upset, disturb

disorder

/ dɪsˈɔːdə /

noun

1. a lack of order; disarray; confusion

2. a disturbance of public order or peace

3. an upset of health; ailment

4. a deviation from the normal system or order

verb

1. to upset the order of; disarrange; muddle

2. to disturb the health or mind of

Other Word Forms

• predisorder noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of disorder¹

First recorded in 1470–80; dis- ¹ + order

Synonym Study

Disorder, brawl, disturbance, uproar are disruptions or interruptions of a peaceful situation. Disorder refers to civil unrest or to any scene in which there is confusion or fighting: The police went to the scene of the disorder. A brawl is a noisy, unseemly quarrel, usually in a public place: a tavern brawl. A disturbance is disorder of a size as to inconvenience people: to cause a disturbance. An uproar is a tumult, a bustle and clamor of many voices, often because of a disturbance: a mighty uproar.

Example Sentences

There are no cures yet for dementia, an umbrella term for cognitive disorders, of which Alzheimer’s is the most common.

From Los Angeles Times

European governments and experts regularly blame Russia, claiming such practices fit with an alleged Kremlin strategy to generally sow disorder and undermine European security.

From BBC

I wish I could say this extreme level of disorder and violence is uncommon, but people kill themselves and each other every day because of relationship fixation and obsession.

From Los Angeles Times

She said schools could find it difficult to support children as the number of diagnoses of autism spectrum disorder and other conditions had increased.

From BBC

Ketamine is typically used as an anesthetic but has grown in popularity over the last decade as a therapeutic treatment for specific mental health diagnoses, including post-traumatic stress disorder and depression.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• chaos 
• complication 
• disturbance 
• lawlessness 
• trouble 
• unrest