# disorder

/dɪˈsɔɹdɝ/ (US) · /dɪsˈɔːdɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/disorder
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 2. mess or confusion

noun · CEFR B2

a state where things are messy, untidy, or not organized.

For teachers: the absence of order or systematic arrangement; a state of confusion or untidiness.

- The sudden wind left the garden in a state of complete disorder.
- The office fell into total disorder after the filing system was accidentally deleted during the server migration.

### 3. public disturbance

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

violent or noisy behavior by a large group of people in public.

For teachers: a disturbance of civic peace or public order, typically involving protest or violence.

- The police were called to the city center to stop the civil disorder.
- The government feared that the rising food prices would lead to widespread civil disorder and strikes across the capital.

### 4. to make messy

verb · CEFR C2 · Formal · Literary

to make something messy or break its organized pattern.

For teachers: to disrupt the order, arrangement, or sequence of something. Transitive — requires a direct object.

- The cat jumped on the desk and managed to disorder all my papers.
- The unexpected arrival of the guests served to disorder her carefully planned schedule for the afternoon.

## Examples

- He was diagnosed with a rare blood disorder.
- The clinic specializes in treating sleep disorders, helping patients who struggle with insomnia and sleep apnea.
- The researchers are investigating whether the genetic mutation directly causes the neurological disorder or merely increases a patient's susceptibility to environmental triggers.

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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.