# dislocated

/ˈdɪsɫoʊkeɪtɪd/ (US) · /dɪsləʊkˈeɪtɪd/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/dislocated
Updated: 2026-05-11

## Definition

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.

For teachers: 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.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He dislocated of his shoulder" but "He dislocated his shoulder" — When used as a verb, it is transitive and takes a direct object without a preposition.

## Usage notes

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

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.