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Disjointed Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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disjointed

dis-joint-ed

🇺🇸 /dɪsˈdʒɔɪntɪd/ · 🇬🇧 /dɪsdʒˈɔɪntɪd/

Definitions

Context #1 | Adjective

incoherent

Lacking coherence or connection; disconnected; disjointed sentences often make it difficult for readers to follow the author's thought process.

Synonyms

disconnected, incoherent, jumbled.

Examples of usage

  • His disjointed speech made it hard to understand his point of view.
  • The movie had a disjointed plot that left many viewers confused.
Context #2 | Verb

separate

To disconnect or separate; to disjointed the pieces of a puzzle is to make them no longer fit together.

Synonyms

disconnect, dismember, sever.

Examples of usage

  • She disjointed the parts of the broken toy in order to fix it.
  • The magician disjointed his body in a seemingly impossible way.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Quick facts about “disjointed”

Disjointed is a 3-syllable adjective and verb (dis-joint-ed). It is pronounced /dɪsˈdʒɔɪntɪd/ in American English and /dɪsdʒˈɔɪntɪd/ in British English. On finesentence.com it has 2 meanings, 6 synonyms, and translations into 21 languages. It ranks #21,059 among the most common English words.

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“disjointed” in literature

  • In storytelling, a disjointed narrative can create confusion, often used purposely to depict a chaotic situation.
  • Famous works like 'The Sound and the Fury' by William Faulkner employ disjointed timelines to reflect the characters' mental states.
  • Poetry may use disjointed structures to provoke thought and convey emotions in unexpected ways.

“disjointed” in psychology

  • Disjointed thoughts can often result from cognitive overload, where the mind struggles to process too much information at once.
  • Conditions like schizophrenia may present disjointed speech, which reflects a break in the logical connections of thoughts.
  • Therapeutic techniques often aim to help individuals connect their thoughts and feelings for clearer understanding.

“disjointed” in music

  • In music, a disjointed melody or rhythm creates a sense of unpredictability, making certain pieces more engaging.
  • Avant-garde composers frequently use disjointed elements to challenge traditional musical structures.
  • Jazz improvisation might result in disjointed riffs that reflect the spontaneity of performance.

“disjointed” in communication

  • Disjointed communication can lead to misunderstandings, especially in settings requiring clarity, like business meetings.
  • Effective speakers often work to avoid disjointed expressions by connecting their ideas logically.
  • In debates, disjointed arguments can weaken a case, as coherence is key to persuading an audience.

Origin of 'disjointed'

Main points about word origin

  • The word comes from the Middle English 'disjointen', meaning to separate or disconnect.
  • Its roots can be traced back to the Latin 'disiunctus', which means 'divided or separated'.
  • Over time, the term evolved to describe ideas or narratives that aren’t well connected.

The word 'disjointed' originated from the Old French word 'desjointier', which meant 'to dismember'. Over time, it evolved to mean lacking coherence or connection. The term has been used in English literature and language to describe things that are disconnected or incoherent.

See also: joint, jointed, jointly, joints.

Rhymes

Disjointed rhymes with appointed.

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Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #21,059, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.