Disruption
/dɪsˈrʌpʃən/
Definitions
The act of interrupting or preventing something from continuing.
/dɪsˈrʌpʃən/
An event that interrupts an activity or process.
The storm caused major disruptions to air travel.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're playing a game, and suddenly someone accidentally bumps the table. That bump, which messes up the game, is a disruption! It's anything that messes with the normal way things are.
👶 For kids: When something stops what you're doing, like if your building blocks fall down. That's a disruption!
More Examples
The new software caused a brief disruption in the workflow.
The strike led to widespread disruptions in public services.
Technological innovations often lead to disruption in established industries.
How It's Used
"Technological advancements can lead to market disruption."
"Protests caused significant disruption to the city's transport system."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
Antonyms
Idioms & expressions
market disruption
The process where a new product or service unexpectedly displaces an established technology or market.
"The rise of smartphones caused significant market disruption in the mobile phone industry."
cause a disruption
To create a situation that interrupts or prevents something from continuing.
"The construction work is causing a disruption to traffic flow."
From Latin disruptus, past participle of disrumpere 'to break apart', from dis- 'apart' + rumpere 'to break'.
The word 'disruption' emerged in the 17th century and initially meant a breaking apart or dissolution. Its meaning has evolved to encompass interruptions and disturbances.
Memory tip
Think of a sudden roadblock or change that throws everything off course.
Word Origin
"to break"