Disrupt Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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disrupt

[dɪsˈrʌpt ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Verb

business

To cause disorder or turmoil in a system or process, often by interrupting the normal flow of operations.

Synonyms

disturb, interrupt, unsettle.

Examples of usage

  • The new technology disrupted the traditional way of doing business.
  • The strike disrupted production at the factory.
  • The pandemic disrupted the global supply chain.
Context #2 | Noun

technology

An innovation or technology that significantly changes or replaces existing processes or systems.

Synonyms

breakthrough, game-changer, innovation.

Examples of usage

  • The introduction of smartphones was a major disrupt to the mobile phone industry.
  • Blockchain technology has the potential to be a disrupt in various sectors.

Translations

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

Interesting Facts

Pop Culture

  • In the tech world, 'disrupt' is often used to describe startups that change industries significantly, like Uber did for transportation.
  • The term is popular in business strategies, known as 'disruptive innovation', coined by Clayton Christensen in 1995.

Science

  • Ecologists use 'disruption' to describe how a disturbance affects ecosystems, like wildfires reshaping forests.
  • In physics, the concept of disruption can refer to a force that alters or disturbs the motion of an object.

Sociology

  • Social movements often aim to disrupt the status quo, bringing attention to injustices and inequalities.
  • Cultural disruptions can lead to new norms or shifts in societal values, as seen during major events like the Civil Rights Movement.

Business

  • Many companies now focus on how to 'disrupt' their competitors by creating new technologies or customer experiences.
  • Market analysts study disruptions to predict future trends and understand the evolution of industries.

Origin of 'disrupt'

Main points about word origin

  • The word comes from the Latin 'disrumpere', which means 'to break apart' or 'burst'.
  • In English, it first appeared in the 15th century with the meaning of breaking or interrupting.

The word 'disrupt' originated from the Latin word 'disrumpere', which means 'to break apart'. It first appeared in English in the 17th century. The concept of disruption has been popularized in business and technology contexts, referring to the drastic change or interruption caused by innovative ideas or technologies. Disruption is often seen as a double-edged sword, bringing both challenges and opportunities for growth and transformation.


See also: disrupted, disrupter, disruption, disruptive, disruptively, disruptor.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranked #12,276, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.