disorder

1 of 2

verb

dis·​or·​der (ˌ)dis-ˈȯr-dər How to pronounce disorder (audio)
(ˌ)diz-
disordered; disordering; disorders

transitive verb

1
: to disturb the order of
2
: to disturb the regular or normal functions of

disorder

2 of 2

noun

1
: lack of order
clothes in disorder
2
: breach of the peace or public order
troubled times marked by social disorders
3
: an abnormal physical or mental condition
a liver disorder
a personality disorder

Examples of disorder in a Sentence

Verb be careful not to disorder the carefully arranged contents of the dresser Noun The mayor is concerned that a rally could create public disorder. problems of crime and social disorder Millions of people suffer from some form of personality disorder.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
The structure explains why things remain disordered outside of a complex. John Timmer, Ars Technica, 19 Sep. 2023 Winningham sings, and in light of Elizabeth’s plight — a woman with a mind disordered by grief — the words have a coincidental authority. Thomas Floyd, Washington Post, 11 Dec. 2023 Beyond her athletic prowess, Britton Wilson is an impassioned advocate for women’s mental health in sports, drawing from her battles with anxiety, depression, disordered eating, and body dysmorphia. Allyson Felix, Glamour, 26 Sep. 2023 Our father’s behavior was disordered and occasionally violent. Rachel Cusk, Harper's Magazine, 10 Sep. 2023 Hotter days are associated with anxiety, anger, irritability, disordered sleep, and violent crime; as temperatures rise, so do suicide attempts and overdose deaths. Dhruv Khullar, The New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2023 Many people develop negative associations with eating due to various factors such as stress, trauma, or disordered eating habits. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 14 Aug. 2023 Some have pointed out that the grazing isn’t enough satisfy their own appetites and, in some cases, could be masking disordered eating. Jessica Roy, New York Times, 8 July 2023 Other areas of the Middle East are too disordered for American aid, threats, or entreaties to have much of an effect. F. Gregory Gause Iii, Foreign Affairs, 22 Feb. 2022
Noun
Deep brain stimulators have been used for two decades for movement disorders like Parkinson’s disease and dystonia. Brenda Goodman, CNN, 15 Mar. 2024 Shi’s lawyers have contended that their client was suffering from a schizoaffective disorder and post traumatic stress brought on by the divorce paperwork. Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2024 Some medical conditions or disorders are worse for one gender over another. Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 14 Mar. 2024 His doctor walked through various experimental approaches for the bleeding disorder and, invariably, gene therapy. Jason Mast, STAT, 13 Mar. 2024 Experts predict that the disorder will place continuing demands on our healthcare system. Lisa M. Krieger, The Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2024 They'll be trained on substance use disorders by the school district, which will hire a third-party vendor to design the curriculum. The Arizona Republic, 8 Mar. 2024 It’s also been connected to mental health disorders, such as depression and anxiety. Dominique Fluker, Essence, 7 Mar. 2024 Turner, who grew up on Indy's northside, was diagnosed around four years ago with retinitis pigmentosa, a rare genetic disorder that slowly limits field of vision. Binghui Huang, The Indianapolis Star, 7 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'disorder.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1523, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of disorder was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near disorder

Cite this Entry

“Disorder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disorder. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

disorder

1 of 2 verb
dis·​or·​der (ˈ)dis-ˈȯrd-ər How to pronounce disorder (audio)
1
: to disturb the order of
2
: to disturb the regular or normal functions of

disorder

2 of 2 noun
1
: lack of order : a state or condition without order
clothes in disorder
2
: an abnormal physical or mental condition : ailment

Medical Definition

disorder

1 of 2 transitive verb
dis·​or·​der (ˈ)dis-ˈȯrd-ər, (ˈ)diz- How to pronounce disorder (audio)
disordered; disordering -ˈȯrd-(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce disorder (audio)
: to disturb the regular or normal functions of

disorder

2 of 2 noun
: an abnormal physical or mental condition : ailment
an intestinal disorder
a nervous disorder

More from Merriam-Webster on disorder

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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