Disorder

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /dɪsˈɔː(ɹ)dÉ™(ɹ)/Rhymes: -ɔː(r)dÉ™(r)

Alternative forms

• disordre obsolete

Origin

- + order. Middle English disordeine, from Old French desordainer, from Medieval Latin disordinare.

Full definition of disorder

Noun

1. Absence of order; state of not being arranged in an orderly manner.After playing the children left the room in disorder.
2. A disturbance of civic peace or of public order.The class was thrown into disorder when the teacher left the roomThe army tried to prevent disorder when claims the elections had been rigged grew stronger.
3. (medicine) A physical or psychical malfunction.Bulimia is an eating disorder.

Synonyms

• (absence of order) chaos, entropy; see also
• (disturbance of civic peace) See also

Derived terms