A disorder is a problem or illness which affects someone's mind or body.
...a rare nerve disorder that can cause paralysis of the arms.
...a psychiatrist who specialises in eating disorders.
He appeared to be suffering from a severe mental disorder and had served a term inprison.
Synonyms: illness, disease, complaint, condition More Synonyms of disorder
2. uncountable noun [oft inNOUN]
Disorder is a state of being untidy, badly prepared, or badly organized.
The emergency room was in disorder.
Inside all was disorder: drawers fallen out, shoes and boots scattered.
Synonyms: untidiness, mess, confusion, chaos More Synonyms of disorder
3. variable noun
Disorder is violence or rioting in public.
He called on the authorities to stop public disorder.
There are other forms of civil disorder–most notably, football hooliganism.
Synonyms: disturbance, fight, riot, turmoil More Synonyms of disorder
More Synonyms of disorder
disorder in British English
(dɪsˈɔːdə)
noun
1.
a lack of order; disarray; confusion
2.
a disturbance of public order or peace
3.
an upset of health; ailment
4.
a deviation from the normal system or order
verb(transitive)
5.
to upset the order of; disarrange; muddle
6.
to disturb the health or mind of
disorder in American English
(dɪsˈɔrdər)
noun
1.
a lack of order; confusion; jumble
2.
a breach of public peace; riot
3.
a disregard of system; irregularity
4.
an upset of normal function; ailment
verb transitive
5.
to throw into disorder; disarrange
6.
to upset the normal functions or health of
SIMILAR WORDS: conˈfusion
Word origin
prob. < Fr désordre
disorder in Insurance
(dɪsɔrdər)
noun
(Insurance: Medical insurance)
A disorder is a mental or physical illness which prevents part of your body from working properly.
Depending on the medical condition, the insurer may shorten the benefit period tocompensate for the medical disorder.
Sleep disorders have been linked to an increased risk of injury due to falls and car accidents.
A disorder is a mental or physical illness which prevents part of your body from working properly.
Word builderdis-The prefix dis- is often added to the beginning of words to form their opposite.
Examples of 'disorder' in a sentence
disorder
Michael probably just thought she had a tongue disorder.
Bénédicte Newland and Pascale Smets AND GOD CREATED THE AU PAIR (2005)
He is chilled, as he often is, by Anna's cold and pathological hate of disorder, of uselessness.
Sara MacDonald SEA MUSIC (2005)
Don't ask him why, probably some terrible repressed disorder, a hand fixation.
James W. Hall BLACKWATER SOUND (2005)
In other languages
disorder
British English: disorder NOUN
A disorder is a problem or illness which affects someone's mind or body.
...a rare nerve disorder that can cause paralysis of the arms.
American English: disorder
Brazilian Portuguese: desordem
Chinese: 紊乱
European Spanish: trastorno
French: trouble
German: Funktionsstörung
Italian: disturbo
Japanese: 障害
Korean: 질환
European Portuguese: desordem
Latin American Spanish: trastorno
All related terms of 'disorder'
mood disorder
a psychiatric disorder characterized by depression , elation , or an alternation between the two
blood disorder
a medical condition affecting the blood
eating disorder
a condition such as bulimia or anorexia that affects the way a person eats and their attitude to food
mental disorder
(in England, according to the Mental Health Act 1983) mental illness , arrested or incomplete development of mind , psychopathic disorder , or any other disorder or disability of the mind
panic disorder
a condition in which a person experiences recurrent panic attacks
speech disorder
an inability to produce normal speech
affective disorder
any psychological disorder , such as depression or mania , that is characterized by abnormal disturbances of mood
anxiety disorder
any of various disorders characterized by extreme anxiety and including panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder
bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder is a mental illness in which a person's state of mind changes between extreme happiness and extreme depression.
thought disorder
a cognitive disorder in which the patient's thoughts or conversations are characterized by irrationality or sudden changes of subject
adjustment disorder
a mental disorder that occurs as a maladaptive reaction to an episode of psychological , social, or physical stress , as divorce or a natural disaster
conversion disorder
a psychological disorder in which severe physical symptoms like blindness or paralysis appear with no apparent physical cause
developmental disorder
any condition, such as autism or dyslexia , that appears in childhood and is characterized by delay in the development of one or more psychological functions, such as language skill
dissociative disorder
a mental disorder , as multiple personality , characterized by sudden temporary alteration in consciousness, identity , or motor behavior
factitious disorder
any of various syndromes, as Munchausen syndrome , characterized by physical or psychological symptoms intentionally produced by a person and under voluntary control
hyperkinetic disorder
another name for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
personality disorder
any of a group of mental disorders characterized by a permanent disposition to behave in ways causing suffering to oneself or others
psychopathic disorder
(in England, according to the Mental Health Act 1983) a persistent disorder or disability of mind which results in abnormally aggressive or seriously irresponsible conduct on the part of the person concerned
binge eating disorder
a mental health condition characterized by periods of uncontrolled binge eating
schizoaffective disorder
a psychotic disorder in which symptoms of schizophrenia and affective disorder occur simultaneously
body dysmorphic disorder
a psychological disorder characterized by fear that one's body, or any part of it, is repulsive or may become so
colony collapse disorder
a phenomenon of uncertain origin which causes large numbers of worker bees to disappear suddenly from a hive
illness anxiety disorder
→ another name for hypochondria
somatic symptom disorder
a psychiatric disorder in which the physical symptoms associated with a disease cause abnormal distress and anxiety
attention deficit disorder
Attention deficit disorder is a condition where people, especially children, are unable to concentrate on anything for very long and so find it difficult to learn and often behave in inappropriate ways . The abbreviation → ADD is often used.
autistic-spectrum disorder
any developmental condition within the spectrum of autism , such as Asperger syndrome
bipolar (affective) disorder
a psychotic disorder characterized by alternating periods of mania and mental depression ; manic-depressive illness : now the preferred term in psychiatry
generalized anxiety disorder
a condition characterized by excessive anxiety about a range of issues over an extended period of time
multiple personality disorder
a dissociative mental disorder characterized by the existence in a person of two or more distinct , independent personalities , any of which may control behavior while being unaware of the other personalities and their memories and experiences
obsessive-compulsive disorder
If someone suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder , they cannot stop doing a particular thing, for example washing their hands.
posttraumatic stress disorder
a mental disorder occurring after a traumatic event outside the range of usual human experience , and characterized by symptoms such as reliving the event, reduced involvement with others, and manifestations of autonomic arousal such as hyperalertness and exaggerated startle response
seasonal affective disorder
Seasonal affective disorder is a feeling of tiredness and sadness that some people have during the autumn and winter when there is very little sunshine . The abbreviation → SAD is often used.
borderline personality disorder
a personality disorder characterized by impulsiveness, extreme mood swings , and often anger
dissociative identity disorder
a disorder in which an individual's personality appears to have become separated into two or more distinct personalities, each with its own complex organization
narcissistic personality disorder
a personality disorder characterized by excessive narcissism or exceptional self-interest and admiration
persistent depressive disorder
a psychiatric condition characterized by long-term , generalized depression
post-traumatic stress disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental illness that can develop after someone has been involved in a very bad experience such as a war.
temporomandibular joint disorder
a syndrome caused by a dislocation , injury, etc. of the temporomandibular joint, characterized variously by headache , facial pain, dizziness, partial loss of hearing , etc.
dysthymia
a relatively mild depression
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a condition where people, especially children , are extremely active and unable to concentrate on anything for very long, with the result that they find it difficult to learn and often behave in inappropriate ways . The abbreviation → ADHD is often used.
night terror
a sudden feeling of extreme fear that awakens a sleeping person, usually during slow-wave sleep, and is not associated with a dream or nightmare
Chinese translation of 'disorder'
disorder
(dɪsˈɔːdəʳ)
n
(u) (= untidiness) 杂(雜)乱(亂) (záluàn)
(u) (= rioting) 动(動)乱(亂) (dòngluàn)
(c) (= illness) 失调(調) (shītiáo)
civil/public disorder市民动(動)乱(亂) (shìmín dòngluàn)
1 (noun)
Definition
an illness
a rare nerve disorder that can cause paralysis of the arms
Synonyms
illness
She returned to her family home to recover from an illness.
disease
illnesses such as heart disease
complaint
Eczema is a common skin complaint.
condition
Doctors suspect he may have a heart condition.
sickness
a sickness that affects children
ailment
The pharmacist can assist you with the treatment of common ailments.
affliction
Hay fever is an affliction that arrives at an early age.
malady
He was stricken at twenty-one with a crippling malady.
infirmity
Older people often try to ignore their infirmities.
indisposition
2 (noun)
Definition
a state of untidiness and disorganization
The emergency room was in disorder.
Synonyms
untidiness
mess
Linda can't stand mess.
confusion
The rebel leader seems to have escaped in the confusion.
chaos
The country appears to be sliding towards chaos.
havoc (informal)
The overturned lorry wreaked havoc on the roads.
muddle
My thoughts are all in a muddle.
state
clutter
She preferred her work area to be free of clutter.
shambles
The economy is a shambles.
disarray
He found the room in disarray.
jumble
a meaningless jumble of words
irregularity
a dangerous irregularity in her heartbeat
disorganization
The army is suffering from low morale and disorganization.
hotchpotch
derangement
a condition brought on by the derangement of the nerve fibres
hodgepodge
pig's breakfast (informal)
disorderliness
3 (noun)
Definition
public violence or rioting
He called on the authorities to stop public disorder.
Synonyms
disturbance
During the disturbance, three men were hurt.
fight
He got a bloody nose in a fight.
riot
Twelve cars were destroyed during the riot.
turmoil
a year of political turmoil
unrest
The real danger is civil unrest in the east of the country.
quarrel
I had a terrible quarrel with my other brothers.
upheaval
a prolonged period of political upheaval
brawl
He had been in a street brawl.
clamour
Kathryn's quiet voice stilled the clamour.
uproar
The announcement caused uproar in the crowd.
turbulence
a region often beset by religious turbulence
fracas
Several people were injured in the ensuing fracas.
commotion
He heard a terrible commotion outside.
rumpus
He had left before the rumpus started.
tumult
the recent tumult in global financial markets
hubbub
the hubbub over the election
shindig (informal)
hullabaloo
I was scared by the hullabaloo over my arrival.
scrimmage
unruliness
shindy (informal)
bagarre (French)
biffo (Australian, slang)
(verb)
Synonyms
disorganize
upset
I was wondering whether that might upset my level of concentration.
confuse
She was confused by this new turn of events.
disturb
His notes had not been disturbed.
scatter
unsettle
The presence of the two police officers unsettled her.
mix up
muddle
Already some people have begun to muddle the two names.
clutter
I don't want to clutter the room up with too much junk.
jumble
All our old clothes were jumbled together in the attic.
confound
For many years medical scientists were confounded by these seemingly contradictory facts.
mess up
disarrange
derange
discompose
make hay of
muss (US, Canadian)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of affliction
Definition
something that causes physical or mental suffering
Hay fever is an affliction that arrives at an early age.
Synonyms
misfortune,
suffering,
trouble,
trial,
disease,
pain,
distress,
grief,
misery,
plague (informal),
curse,
ordeal,
sickness,
torment,
hardship,
sorrow,
woe,
adversity,
calamity,
scourge,
tribulation,
wretchedness
in the sense of ailment
Definition
a slight illness
The pharmacist can assist you with the treatment of common ailments.