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disruption

disruption

126 4.1
A break in the normal flow of activity
  • noun
  • /dɪsˈrʌpʃən/
translation icon : interrupción
  • The construction work resulted in a temporary disruption of traffic along the main road.
  • supply disruption
  • cause disruption
  • minimize disruption

It's tough because you know the disruption to routine will hurt them.

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Examples

  • Education leaders are concerned that the ruling will cause serious disruption and dissension in communities.

    Academic text (1990)
  • Has there been a stressful event or disruption in your family lately?

  • The big, big wave of disruption in education, this is what is coming.

  • Indeed, it is quite possible that new online competition has meant disruption for other businesses, especially smaller ones.

    Academic text (1999)
  • It's tough because you know the disruption to routine will hurt them.

  • "I hope I'm not causing too much of a disruption in your work.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • Use a recording system that minimizes disruption to the ongoing classroom activities.

    Academic text (1999)
  • Companies should reduce the probability of disruptions by taking preventive measures.

    Academic text (2011)
  • The storm caused a major disruption in train services, leaving many passengers stranded.

  • There was a significant disruption to the conference schedule due to technical difficulties.

Synonyms

break
vsdisruption
1.0

A short rest from work or activity

is broader, covering major disturbances rather than small pauses
to-do
vsdisruption
  • Informal
262 7.0

A noisy fuss about something not important

is about interruptions to processes rather than social fuss
interruption
vsdisruption
99 3.0

A short time when something stops or is delayed

is broader, covering disturbance and breaks in normal flow
gap
vsdisruption
87 2.3

A pause in an activity or event

is a broader interruption affecting flow, order, or processes
disturbance
vsdisruption
  • Specialized
80 4.1

An interruption to a normal system, like loud noise or signal trouble

is the wider idea of interruption focused on flow and order
kerfuffle
vsdisruption
  • Informal
8 8.8

A small noisy fuss when people disagree

is concerned with process breaks, not minor social arguments
perturbation
vsdisruption
  • Specialized
4 8.8

A small change that makes a system behave differently

is a general interruption rather than a technical system change
abruption
vsdisruption
3 9.9

A sudden end to something that is happening

is a general interruption without implying suddenness
dislocation
vsdisruption
1 6.8

A movement that puts parts of a structure out of place

is a general interruption rather than a structural displacement
perturbance
vsdisruption
  • Specialized
8.5

A change that makes a system or process work differently than usual

is the general break in flow not only a technical variation
bump in the schedule
vsdisruption
5.9

A small unexpected delay in a planned schedule

is a general interruption, not only timetable delays

Antonyms

1.0

The arrangement of things in a neat sequence

363 3.1

Being steady and not likely to change

52 4.7

A situation where things stay the same or keep happening without big changes

How Disruptive

collapse
350 4.1
breakdown
79 4.4
disruption
126 4.1
interruption
99 3.0
blip
35 5.3

Surface Forms

disruption singular
disruptions plural

Morphology

disruption = disrupt (transparent) = dis + rupt + ion

For learners who know the verb 'disrupt', adding '-ion' gives a straightforward noun meaning the act or result of disrupting.

Etymology

Disruption comes from the parts dis- meaning 'apart' and rupt meaning 'break', and you can see the same root in rupture and interrupt. So a disruption is like a 'breaking apart' of the normal flow — a sudden interruption or disturbance.