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adjective B2 Upper-Intermediate Uncommon

disorderly

dihs-AW-duh-lee

Disorderly (adjective) means Messy or lacking any clear organization. Example: “The room was left in a disorderly state after the party.”

adjective
1
Messy or lacking any clear organization.
"The room was left in a disorderly state after the party."
2
Unruly or breaking rules of public behavior.
"He was arrested for disorderly conduct outside the bar."

How to use disorderly

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither messy/unorganized, or, in a legal sense, behaving in a way that disturbs public order.

Common pairings
disorderly conduct disorderly crowd

Word forms

more disorderly comparative, more disorderly comparative, disorderlies plural, most disorderly superlative, most disorderly superlative

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The room was left in a _____ state after the party.

Etymology

From disorder plus the adjective-forming suffix -ly.

Related words

Rhymes for disorderly

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Frequently asked questions

What does “disorderly” mean?

The word “disorderly” means messy or lacking any clear organization. In plain terms, either messy/unorganized, or, in a legal sense, behaving in a way that disturbs public order.

How do you pronounce “disorderly”?

“Disorderly” is pronounced dihs-AW-duh-lee (/dɪsˈɔː.də.li/ in IPA).

How do you use “disorderly” in a sentence?

Here is “disorderly” used in a sentence: “The room was left in a disorderly state after the party.”

What is another word for “disorderly”?

Words with a similar meaning to “disorderly” include chaotic, cluttered, messy, ree-raw, riotous and tempestuous.

What is the opposite of “disorderly”?

The opposite of “disorderly” — its antonyms — is orderly.

What part of speech is “disorderly”?

“Disorderly” is an adjective.

Is “disorderly” a common word?

“Disorderly” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “disorderly” have?

“Disorderly” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: messy or lacking any clear organization.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial