Disorganized: meaning, definitions and examples

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disorganized

 

[ dɪsˈɔːɡənaɪzd ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

work environment

Lacking order or method; messy; chaotic.

Synonyms

chaotic, cluttered, messy, untidy.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
disorganized

Use this word to describe a situation, plan, or person that lacks structure, order, or efficiency. Often used in professional or formal contexts.

  • The team's disorganized approach led to many missed deadlines.
  • His disorganized desk makes it hard for him to find important documents.
messy

Often used in informal situations to describe something or someone that is dirty, unkempt, or not properly organized. It carries a slightly negative connotation.

  • His room is always messy with clothes all over the place.
  • The kids made the kitchen messy after their cooking experiment.
chaotic

Best used to describe situations that are extremely disordered, confusing, and hard to manage. It often implies a sense of urgency or crisis.

  • The evacuation turned chaotic when the fire alarms started blaring.
  • The market is chaotic during the holiday season.
cluttered

Refers to a physical space filled with too many items, making it hard to find things or move around easily.

  • The garage is so cluttered that it's almost impossible to park the car inside.
  • Her desk is cluttered with papers, books, and miscellaneous items.
untidy

Describes physical spaces or appearances that lack neatness and order. It is similar to 'messy' but often used in slightly more formal contexts.

  • She received a warning for her untidy workspace.
  • He showed up to the meeting looking untidy and unprofessional.

Examples of usage

  • Her desk is always so disorganized, it's hard to find anything in there.
  • The files in the cabinet were disorganized, making it difficult to locate the necessary documents.
Context #2 | Adjective

personal habits

Characterized by a lack of organization or planning.

Synonyms

careless, haphazard, scatterbrained, unsystematic.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
disorganized

When someone or something lacks order or is messy.

  • Her desk was disorganized, with papers and books all over the place
unsystematic

When there is a lack of a clear system or method.

  • His research was unsystematic, making it difficult to draw any firm conclusions
haphazard

When something is done in a random or unplanned way. Often implies a lack of method or organization.

  • The meeting was organized in a haphazard manner, with no clear agenda or structure
scatterbrained

When someone is forgetful or unable to concentrate. Often used to describe a person's behavior.

  • She can be quite scatterbrained, often forgetting where she left her keys
careless

When someone does not pay enough attention to doing something correctly, often leading to mistakes. This often has a negative connotation.

  • He made a careless mistake on his test because he didn't check his answers

Examples of usage

  • His disorganized approach to studying often led to poor academic performance.
  • She tends to be disorganized when it comes to keeping track of appointments and deadlines.

Translations

Translations of the word "disorganized" in other languages:

🇵🇹 desorganizado

🇮🇳 अव्यवस्थित

🇩🇪 unorganisiert

🇮🇩 tidak teratur

🇺🇦 недисциплінований

🇵🇱 niezorganizowany

🇯🇵 整理されていない

🇫🇷 désorganisé

🇪🇸 desorganizado

🇹🇷 düzensiz

🇰🇷 조직되지 않은

🇸🇦 غير منظم

🇨🇿 neorganizovaný

🇸🇰 neorganizovaný

🇨🇳 无组织的

🇸🇮 neorganiziran

🇮🇸 óskipulagt

🇰🇿 ұйымдастырылмаған

🇬🇪 დაუკომპლექტებელი

🇦🇿 təşkilatlanmamış

🇲🇽 desorganizado

Etymology

The word 'disorganized' originated from the combination of the prefix 'dis-' meaning 'not' or 'lack of' and the word 'organized,' which comes from the Latin 'organizare' meaning 'to arrange or put in order.' The term has been used in English since the 18th century to describe things or people lacking order or method.

See also: disorganize, organizable, organizational, organizations, organizers, organizing, reorganization, reorganize, unorganized.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #17,298, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.