ENGLISH
REFERENCE

disruptive

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //dɪsˈɹəptɪv// UK //dɪsɹˈʌptɪv// dis·rup·tive

adj. causing trouble or change, often in a way that stops things from working as usual. You use this when something breaks the normal routine.

adj. causing disturbance, interruption, or significant change to an established order or system. Often used in business and technology contexts to describe innovations that displace existing methods.


SIMPLE

The loud music was very disruptive.

CONTEXTUAL

The new software was disruptive to our daily workflow.

COMPLEX

Electric vehicles are disruptive to the traditional automotive industry, forcing manufacturers to rethink their entire supply chain and business model.

Synonyms
Origin

From disrupt + -ive. In the business sense popularized by Clayton Christensen and Joseph Bower, see 1995 citation.

Usage

Often followed by 'to' when specifying what is being disturbed.

Pitfall

disruptive for the marketdisruptive to the marketThe adjective typically takes the preposition 'to' when indicating the target of the disruption.

© 2026 English Reference