English Reference

Word

dislocated

Phoneticsdis·lo·cat·ed

US/ˈdɪsɫoʊkeɪtɪd/

UK/dɪsləʊkˈeɪtɪd/

Definition

adj. describing a bone that has been pushed out of its normal position in a joint. It is also used to describe something that has been moved or disconnected from its usual place.

adj. describing a bone that has been displaced from its normal position at a joint; by extension, referring to something disconnected or displaced from its proper context. Often used predicatively after 'be' or 'become'.

Examples

“He went to the hospital because his shoulder was dislocated.”

“The athlete suffered a dislocated finger during the match and had to be substituted immediately.”

“The war left thousands of families feeling dislocated, as they were forced to abandon their ancestral homes and adapt to a completely foreign culture.”

Examples

simple

“He went to the hospital because his shoulder was dislocated.”

contextual

“The athlete suffered a dislocated finger during the match and had to be substituted immediately.”

complex

“The war left thousands of families feeling dislocated, as they were forced to abandon their ancestral homes and adapt to a completely foreign culture.”

Usage

Often follows a linking verb like 'be', 'become', or 'look'.

Pitfall

He dislocated of his shoulder

He dislocated his shoulder

When used as a verb, it is transitive and takes a direct object without a preposition.

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/dislocated

English Reference