Meaning & use
disruption
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountable or uncountable
A disturbance or problem that interrupts an event, process, or system.
Grammar: Can be countable (a disruption) or uncountable (cause disruption).
Patterns
- cause disruption
- a disruption to something
- disruption of something
The heavy snow caused widespread disruption to travel.
We apologize for any disruption to your service.
The protest led to the disruption of the meeting.
nouncountable or uncountablebusiness
A new product, service, or business model that significantly changes an industry, often replacing established ones.
Grammar: Often used in business contexts; can be countable (a disruption) or uncountable (disruption in the market).
Patterns
- disruption in an industry
- technological disruption
- market disruption
The company is known for its disruption of the taxi industry.
Digital disruption has forced many traditional retailers to adapt.
Investors are looking for the next big disruption in healthcare.
Word forms
| plural | disruptions |
|---|
Common combinations
- cause disruption
- The strike caused significant disruption to public transport.
- disruption to something
- There was major disruption to flights due to the storm.
- technological disruption
- Technological disruption has changed how we shop and communicate.
- market disruption
- The new app created major market disruption in the food delivery sector.
- minimize disruption
- The school tried to minimize disruption during exam week.
Synonyms and how they differ
- disturbance
- Often used for physical or social interruptions; 'disruption' is broader and can refer to systems or processes.
- interruption
- A temporary stop; 'disruption' implies more serious or widespread disturbance.
- upheaval
- A strong, often violent change; 'disruption' can be less severe and more neutral.
Opposites
Word family
- disrupt verb
- To interrupt or disturb.
- disruptive adjective
- Causing disruption.
- disruptor noun
- A person or thing that disrupts, especially in business.
Commonly confused: disruption or interruption?
disruption vs interruption
An interruption is a brief stop, while a disruption is a more significant disturbance that can affect a whole system.
Practice
The sudden strike caused major ______ to the city's train services.
Choose one answer.
The sentence needs a noun after 'major'. 'Disruption' is the noun; 'disrupt' is a verb, 'disruptive' is an adjective, and 'disruptively' is an adverb.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “disruption”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.