Disruptive
/dɪsˈrʌptɪv/
Definitions
2 meaningsCausing an interruption to the normal course or process of something.
/dɪsˈrʌptɪv/
Causing trouble and preventing something from continuing normally.
The protesters were accused of being disruptive to public order.
💡 Simply: Imagine someone is constantly interrupting your games or meetings, making it hard to focus. That person is being disruptive. Like when a new app changes everything about how you do something, that can also be disruptive.
👶 For kids: When something is disruptive, it means it's causing problems and making it hard for things to go smoothly.
More Examples
His disruptive influence on the project led to its failure.
Constant interruptions are disruptive to my work.
How It's Used
"Disruptive behavior in the classroom can hinder learning for other students."
"The invention of the smartphone was a disruptive technology that changed how we communicate."
"The new regulations are disruptive to the company's operations."
Causing or tending to cause disruption.
/dɪsˈrʌptɪv/
The development of smartphones was a disruptive technology.
💡 Simply: Imagine a new invention that changes everything about how we do things. A really important, new idea can be very disruptive and can change an entire industry.
👶 For kids: When something is disruptive, it means it's causing problems and making it hard for things to go smoothly.
More Examples
His disruptive ideas have challenged the existing norms.
The new business model is intended to be disruptive to the industry.
How It's Used
"The company is introducing disruptive technologies, such as AI and automation to streamline the operation."
"Disruptive innovation is revolutionizing established industries."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
From Latin *disrumpere* ('to break apart'), influenced by the English word 'rupture'. The 'dis-' prefix indicates reversal or negation.
The term 'disruptive' gained prominence with the rise of new technologies and business models that challenged established industries in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
Memory tip
Imagine a construction crew suddenly blocking traffic flow - DISRUPTIVE!
Word Origin
"to break apart"