Word
disintegration
Phoneticsdis·in·te·gra·tion, stress on the fourth syllable
US/dɪˌsɪnəˈɡɹeɪʃən/
UK/dˌɪsˌɪntɪɡɹˈeɪʃən/
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. the process of breaking into small pieces or falling apart completely. It can describe a physical object breaking or a group of people losing their connection.
n. the process of losing cohesion or strength; the breaking down of a whole into constituent parts or fragments. In a geological context, refers to the mechanical weathering of rock into smaller particles without chemical change.
Examples
“The old building is in a state of total disintegration.”
“Geologists observed the rapid disintegration of the cliff face due to the constant cycle of freezing and thawing.”
“The political scientist argued that the sudden disintegration of the empire was caused by internal corruption rather than external military pressure.”
Examples
simple
“The old building is in a state of total disintegration.”
contextual
“Geologists observed the rapid disintegration of the cliff face due to the constant cycle of freezing and thawing.”
complex
“The political scientist argued that the sudden disintegration of the empire was caused by internal corruption rather than external military pressure.”
Usage
Often used with the preposition 'of' to identify the entity that is breaking apart.
Real-World Examples
“Engineers expected the ship’s life to end with a fiery disintegration after toppling over, just as past Starships have done following splashdown.” “But the genocidal wars that accompanied Yugoslavia’s disintegration in the early 1990s demonstrated that the idea of a single Yugoslav nation lacked deep foundations.” “The loss of the Conger–Glenzer ice shelf in 2022 was the culmination of a multidecadal process of disintegration, signalling East Antarctica may not be as stable as we once thought.” “IT is commonly assumed that the process of artificial disintegration of an atomic nucleus by collision of an α-particle is due to the penetration of the α-particle into the nuclear system; the α-particle is captured and a proton is emitted.” Etymology
From disintegrate + -ion or dis- + integration.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
In Music
Cover shown under fair use for identification and commentary.
Disintegration · 1989 · Gothic rock
- Artist:
- The Cure
- Album:
- Disintegration
The Cure released this intense gothic rock track in 1989 as the centerpiece of their album by the same name. It uses the headword figuratively to describe a person's mental state falling apart due to self-loathing and desperation. The singer sounds as if he is experiencing a complete emotional breakdown throughout the eight-minute performance.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/disintegration