adj
Uncommon
disruptive
dihs-RUHP-tihv
Disruptive (adj) means causing trouble, disorder, or interruption to normal activity. Example: “The teacher asked the disruptive students to sit apart.”
adj
1
Causing trouble, disorder, or interruption to normal activity.
"The teacher asked the disruptive students to sit apart."
"Loud construction noise was disruptive to the neighborhood."
2
In business, describing an innovation that radically changes or displaces an existing market.
"Streaming was a disruptive technology for the TV industry."
How to use disruptive
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither "causing trouble/disorder" or, in business, "radically changing an industry."
Memory tip
Context tells you which sense is meant: a disruptive child vs. a disruptive startup.
Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
disruptive behavior
disruptive technology
disruptive innovation
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more disruptive
- Superlative
- most disruptive
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The teacher asked the _____ students to sit apart.
Etymology
From disrupt + -ive; the business sense was popularized in the 1990s by writer Clayton Christensen's work on "disruptive innovation."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
non-disruptive
nondisruptive
Related words
Rhymes for disruptive
See all rhymes for disruptive →Frequently asked questions
What does “disruptive” mean?
The word “disruptive” means causing trouble, disorder, or interruption to normal activity. In plain terms, either "causing trouble/disorder" or, in business, "radically changing an industry.".
How do you pronounce “disruptive”?
“Disruptive” is pronounced dihs-RUHP-tihv (/dɪsˈɹʌptɪv/ in IPA).
How do you use “disruptive” in a sentence?
Here is “disruptive” used in a sentence: “The teacher asked the disruptive students to sit apart.”
What is the opposite of “disruptive”?
The opposite of “disruptive” — its antonyms — are non-disruptive and nondisruptive.
What part of speech is “disruptive”?
“Disruptive” is an adjective.
Where does the word “disruptive” come from?
The word “disruptive” dates back to around 1990. From disrupt + -ive; the business sense was popularized in the 1990s by writer Clayton Christensen's work on "disruptive innovation.".
Is “disruptive” a common word?
“Disruptive” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “disruptive” have?
“Disruptive” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: causing trouble, disorder, or interruption to normal activity.
