verb

disrupt

dihs-RUHPT

verb

To throw a process, system, or situation into confusion by interrupting its normal flow.

"A power cut disrupted production at the factory for two days."

"Protesters disrupted the meeting by shouting from the back of the room."

To radically change an industry or market by introducing a better or cheaper way of doing things.

"Streaming services disrupted the way people watch television."

"The startup hopes to disrupt the taxi industry with its app."

How to Use Disrupt

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo break up something that was running smoothly, or to shake up an entire industry with a new way of doing things.

Easily confused with

erupt → corrupt →

Common pairings

disrupt the market disrupt a meeting disrupt supply chains

more disrupt comparative, disrupted past tense, disrupts singular, most disrupt superlative

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A power cut _____ production at the factory for two days.

From Latin disrumpere, "to break apart," from dis- ("apart") + rumpere ("to break") — the same root gives us "rupture."