disorder
gb/dɪsˈɔɹdɚ/ us/dɪsˈɔɹdɚ/
B2
Inglês
~ 5300
Aceções
0 aceções
Nome
technical
B2
state
1
medical condition affecting normal function
A problem in the body or mind that stops it from working normally, often described by doctors or mental health experts.
Padrão de uso:
[someone] has [a/an] [type of] disorder
Erro comum:
Learners sometimes use “disorder” for any small problem (e.g., “I have a stomach disorder” for mild, temporary pain). In everyday speech, “problem,” “illness,” or “disease” is usually more natural unless you mean a medically recognized condition. Another mistake is saying “*a disorder of eating*” instead of the fixed term “eating disorder.”
Sinónimos
condition (General medical term; less specific and less clearly negative than “disorder.”)
|
illness (Common word for sickness; often physical and broader than the more technical “disorder.”)
|
disease (Often suggests a clearly defined medical cause; some disorders are not always called diseases.)
Antónimos
health (Refers to a normal, good state of body or mind without disorders.)
|
wellness (Focuses on overall positive physical and mental state, the opposite of having a disorder.)
Colocações
mental disorder
|eating disorder
|anxiety disorder
|bipolar disorder
|sleep disorder
|personality disorder
Temas
health
|psychology
|science
Exemplos
- She was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder in her early twenties.
- Eating disorder specialists say that early treatment greatly improves outcomes.
- The medication is used to treat bipolar disorder and related mood disorders.
- Sleep disorder clinics have seen a rise in patients after the pandemic.
- Many people live full, productive lives while managing a mental disorder.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- He has a sleep disorder and often wakes up at night.
- The doctor thinks she may have an eating disorder.
- Depression is a common mental disorder.
- This medicine is used for a heart disorder.
- People with this disorder need regular care from a doctor.
Nome
B2
state
2
state of mess or confusion
A situation where things are messy, not organized, or confused.
Padrão de uso:
[something] is in (a state of) disorder
Erro comum:
Learners sometimes overuse “disorder” in everyday speech where “mess” or “a big mess” sounds more natural (e.g., “The kitchen is in disorder” sounds formal; “The kitchen is a mess” is more common). Another mistake is confusing it with the verb “order,” thinking “disorder” always means “cancel an order”; this is a different meaning.
Sinónimos
mess (More informal and common in everyday speech, especially for physical spaces.)
|
chaos (Stronger; suggests extreme confusion and lack of control.)
|
confusion (Focuses more on people not understanding what is happening than on physical untidiness.)
Antónimos
order (The normal, opposite state where things are arranged and controlled.)
|
organization (Emphasizes a planned, structured arrangement of things or activities.)
Colocações
in disorder
|complete disorder
|total disorder
|a state of disorder
|social disorder
|political disorder
Temas
daily life
|society
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Exemplos
- The files were in complete disorder after the move.
- His thoughts were in disorder, and he could not make a clear plan.
- Years of poor management left the company in financial disorder.
- The classroom fell into disorder when the teacher left the room.
- The new manager was hired to bring order to the existing disorder.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- Her room is always in disorder.
- The meeting ended in disorder and nobody knew what to do.
- My ideas are in disorder, so I need to write them down.
- There was disorder in the office after the boss left.
- The project started well but soon fell into disorder.
Nome
C1
event
3
public unrest or violent disturbance
A time when many people act violently or wildly in public and break the rules of normal life.
Padrão de uso:
[there] is [public/civil] disorder [in place]
Erro comum:
Learners may confuse this meaning with medical disorders and say things like “public disorders” when they mean “public disorder.” Also, some learners use “disorder” alone where “riot” or “protest” is clearer; “disorder” usually refers to the violent or uncontrolled part of the event, not to peaceful protest.
Sinónimos
unrest (General term for public tension and protests; may or may not be violent.)
|
rioting (Focuses more clearly on violent behavior by crowds.)
Antónimos
peace (Refers to calm public life without violence or conflict.)
|
stability (Emphasizes a steady, calm political and social situation.)
Colocações
public disorder
|civil disorder
|outbreak of disorder
|widespread disorder
|racial disorder
|political disorder
Temas
society
|politics
|law
Exemplos
- The new tax law sparked civil disorder in several major cities.
- Police were deployed to prevent further public disorder after the match.
- Months of political disorder followed the disputed election.
- The government introduced emergency laws to deal with the street disorder.
- Television images showed scenes of disorder outside the parliament building.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- There was serious public disorder after the football game.
- Civil disorder increased after the president left the country.
- Police worked all night to control the disorder.
- The news showed pictures of disorder in the capital city.
- Leaders asked people to stay calm and avoid disorder.
Verbo
formal
C2
action
4
to disturb normal order
To make something no longer ordered or working normally; to disturb or mess it up.
Padrão de uso:
to disorder [something]
Erro comum:
This verb is rare in modern everyday English. Learners often try to use it where “mess up,” “disrupt,” or “disorganize” are more natural. It is safer to prefer those more common verbs in normal conversation and writing.
Sinónimos
disrupt (Common modern verb for interrupting normal action; less about mess, more about breaking a process.)
|
disturb (Broader and more common; can be physical or emotional.)
|
mess up (Informal; emphasizes making something dirty, confused, or wrong.)
Antónimos
organize (Focuses on putting things into a clear and effective order.)
|
arrange (Emphasizes carefully putting things into a planned order or layout.)
Colocações
disorder the room
|disorder the system
|disorder her thoughts
|disorder his mind
Temas
daily life
|psychology
|core_vocabulary
Exemplos
- The sudden change in schedule disordered his carefully planned day.
- Years of conflict have disordered the country’s political institutions.
- The trauma completely disordered her sense of who she was.
- A loud crash outside disordered his thoughts and he lost his place in the speech.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- The storm disordered their travel plans.
- Lack of sleep can disorder your thinking.
- The news disordered his calm mood.
- The children quickly disordered the clean room.
Gramática
Forma de dicionário
disorder
IPA
GB/dɪsˈɔɹdɚ/
US/dɪsˈɔɹdɚ/
Sílabas e acento
dis - order (2 sílabas)
Stress on 2nd syllable (order)
Formas da palavra
Noun
- Base: disorder
- Plural: disorder, disorders
Verb
- Base: disorder
- 3rd Person Singular: disorders
- Present Participle: disordering
- Past: disordered
Família de palavras
Forms
disorders
noun
disordering
verb
disordered
verb
Core family
order
noun A2
disorderly
adjective B2
Related words
orderly
adjective B1
orderliness
noun
Advanced or less common
disorderliness
noun
Expressões
anxiety disorder
1/æŋzˈaɪəti dɪsˈɔɹdɚ/
fixed phrase
technical
disorder with extreme anxiety
A mental problem where a person feels very strong worry or fear that does not match the real situation and makes life difficult.
Exemplos
- He was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder after months of constant worry.
- Anxiety disorders are one of the most common mental health problems.
bipolar disorder
1/baɪpˈoʊlɚ dɪsˈɔɹdɚ/
fixed phrase
technical
disorder with extreme mood swings
A mental health problem where a person’s mood changes between very high energy and very low sadness in strong, repeated cycles.
Exemplos
- Her brother lives with bipolar disorder and takes medication every day.
- The film explores what it is like to have bipolar disorder.
civil disorder
1/sˈɪvəl dɪsˈɔɹdɚ/
fixed phrase
public unrest or riots by citizens
Violent or uncontrolled actions by groups of people in a city or country, often against the government or police.
Exemplos
- The curfew was introduced after two nights of civil disorder.
- Insurance companies refused to cover damage caused by civil disorder.
eating disorder
1/ˈitɪŋ dɪsˈɔɹdɚ/
fixed phrase
technical
medical condition with disordered eating
A serious problem where a person eats in a very unhealthy way or has extreme fear of gaining weight, such as anorexia or bulimia.
Exemplos
- She was treated for an eating disorder when she was a teenager.
- Social media can sometimes make eating disorders worse.
in disorder
1/ˈɪn dɪsˈɔɹdɚ/
fixed phrase
in a messy or confused state
In a condition where things are not tidy, organized, or under control.
Exemplos
- The office was in disorder after the hurried move.
- Her notes were in disorder, so she struggled during the presentation.
mental disorder
1/mˈɛntəl dɪsˈɔɹdɚ/
fixed phrase
technical
medical condition of the mind
A medical problem in the mind that changes how a person thinks, feels, or behaves, such as depression or schizophrenia.
Exemplos
- Depression is one of the most common types of mental disorder.
- Many people with a mental disorder do not receive any treatment.
order and disorder
1/ˈɔɹdɚ ˈænd dɪsˈɔɹdɚ/
fixed phrase
literary
contrast between organized and chaotic states
A pair of ideas used to talk about the difference between things being organized and controlled and things being confused and out of control.
Exemplos
- The book explores the balance between order and disorder in nature.
- Modern cities are built on a constant struggle between order and disorder.
personality disorder
1/pˌɚsənˈælɪti dɪsˈɔɹdɚ/
fixed phrase
technical
long-term problematic personality pattern
A long-lasting mental problem where the way a person thinks, feels, and behaves causes many serious problems in their life and relationships.
Exemplos
- He was diagnosed with a personality disorder in his late twenties.
- People with personality disorders often need long-term therapy.
public disorder
1/pˈʌblɪk dɪsˈɔɹdɚ/
fixed phrase
violent disturbance in public places
Dangerous or violent behavior by groups of people in public, which stops normal life from continuing safely.
Exemplos
- Extra police were sent to prevent public disorder after the verdict.
- The law gives courts new powers to deal with public disorder.
sleep disorder
1/slˈip dɪsˈɔɹdɚ/
fixed phrase
technical
medical condition affecting sleep
A problem that makes it hard for a person to sleep normally, for example waking up many times or not being able to fall asleep.
Exemplos
- Shift workers often suffer from sleep disorders.
- He went to a clinic to check if he had a sleep disorder.