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noun B2 Upper-Intermediate Common

disposal

dihs-POH-zuhl

Disposal (noun) means the act of getting rid of something, especially waste. Example: “The council collects household waste for disposal every Tuesday.”

noun
1
The act of getting rid of something, especially waste.
"The council collects household waste for disposal every Tuesday."
2
The power or right to use or arrange something (as in 'at one's disposal').
"The hotel put a car and driver at our disposal for the trip."

How to Use Disposal

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishGetting rid of something, or having something available to use as needed.

Common pairings
waste disposal at your disposal garbage disposal

Word Forms

disposals plural

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Test yourself on “disposal” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

The council collects household waste for _____ every Tuesday.

Related Words

Rhymes for disposal

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does “disposal” mean?

The word “disposal” means the act of getting rid of something, especially waste. In plain terms, getting rid of something, or having something available to use as needed.

How do you pronounce “disposal”?

“Disposal” is pronounced dihs-POH-zuhl (/dɪsˈpoʊ.zəl/ in IPA).

How do you use “disposal” in a sentence?

Here is “disposal” used in a sentence: “The council collects household waste for disposal every Tuesday.”

What part of speech is “disposal”?

“Disposal” is a noun.

Is “disposal” a common word?

“Disposal” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “disposal” have?

“Disposal” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the act of getting rid of something, especially waste.

Is it "at my disposal" or "in my disposal"?

The standard idiom is "at my disposal" — English fixes this expression with "at", as in "every resource at our disposal". "In my disposal" is a common learner error and should be avoided in writing.

What is the difference between disposal and disposition?

Disposal usually means getting rid of something, especially waste, or availability for use ("at his disposal"). Disposition more often means a person's character or temperament, or the arrangement and transfer of property in legal contexts. They overlap in legal writing but are not interchangeable in everyday English.

What is the difference between disposal and recycling?

In waste management, disposal means permanently getting rid of material, for example by sending it to landfill or incineration, while recycling processes material so it can be used again. Waste guidance commonly treats disposal as the last resort after reduction, reuse, and recycling.

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