English Reference
Noun

disrepair

n. uncountable
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˌdɪsɹɪˈpɛɹ/ UK /dˌɪsɹɪpˈeə/ dis·re·pair UK spelling disrepairs

n.the state of being in bad condition because of a lack of care or maintenance. You use this to describe old buildings, roads, or machines that are falling apart.

n.a state of poor condition or decay resulting from neglect or lack of maintenance. Often used in the prepositional phrase 'in disrepair'.


SIMPLE

The old factory is in such bad disrepair that it is unsafe to enter.

CONTEXTUAL

After years of budget cuts, the city's infrastructure was left in a state of disrepair that required millions to fix.

COMPLEX

The abandoned mansion stood as a haunting reminder of the family's former wealth, its once-grand facade now crumbling into disrepair after decades of neglect.


From dis- + repair.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated