Word
disorderly
Phoneticsdis·or·der·ly, stress on the second syllable
US/dɪˈsɔɹdɝɫi/
UK/dɪsˈɔːdəli/
Definitions
01messy or untidy
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. not neat or organized; messy.
adj. lacking a systematic arrangement or organized pattern; characterized by disarray.
“The desk was covered in a disorderly pile of old newspapers and mail.”
“The evacuation was a disorderly affair, with residents fleeing in various directions rather than following the established emergency protocols.”
02unruly or law-breaking
B2 · Upper Intermediate Law Formal
adj. behaving in a loud, rude, or violent way that breaks public rules.
adj. violating public order, peace, or decency; often used in legal contexts regarding unruly behavior.
“The police arrested several people for disorderly conduct after the protest turned violent.”
“The magistrate warned that any further disorderly behavior in the courtroom would result in immediate contempt charges.”
Antonyms
03in a messy way
C1 · Advanced Formal
adv. doing something in a way that is not organized or controlled.
adv. in a manner characterized by a lack of order, discipline, or systematic arrangement.
“The crowd moved disorderly toward the exits when the alarm rang.”
“The documents were filed so disorderly that it took the auditors three weeks to reconstruct the financial history of the firm.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“The New York Police Department told Al Jazeera that 103 people were arrested for disorderly conduct, and all had been released.” “Ziz was charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.” Etymology
From disorder + -ly (adjectival suffix) or from dis- + orderly.
From disorder + -ly (adverbial suffix) or from dis- + orderly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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