Word Noun
disarray
n.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˌdɪsəˈɹeɪ/ UK /dˌɪsɐɹˈeɪ/ dis·ar·ray UK spelling disarraying, disarrays
Definition
n.a state of confusion or disorder. You use this to describe a situation where things are messy or not organized at all.
n.a state of confusion, disorder, or lack of organization. Often used to describe physical objects, systems, or social situations.
Examples
“The office was in total disarray after the move.”
“The sudden resignation of the CEO left the entire company in a state of disarray.”
“Despite the initial chaos and disarray following the merger, the management team managed to stabilize the operations within a few months.”
Etymology
From Middle English disareyen (“to disarray”), from Middle French desarroyer, from Old French desareer, from des- (“dis-”) + areer (“to array”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
This entry
Origin Old French desareer
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated