# dispersal

/dɪˈspɝsəɫ/ (US) · /dɪspˈɜːsəl/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/dispersal
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

the act of spreading things or people over a wide area. It describes how things move away from a central point to different places.

For teachers: the action or process of distributing things or people over a wide area. Often used in biological contexts regarding seeds or in social contexts regarding crowds.

## Examples

- Wind is a common method for the dispersal of seeds.
- The police ordered the dispersal of the crowd to prevent the situation from becoming dangerous.
- Ecologists study the dispersal patterns of invasive species to predict how quickly they might colonize new habitats and outcompete local flora.

## Usage notes

- Uncountable when referring to the general process; countable when referring to specific instances or patterns.

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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.