Looking up...
disorderly
/dɪsˈɔːrdərli/
lacking organization or control
The protest turned disorderly when some participants began throwing objects.
The protest became chaotic and uncontrollable when people started throwing things.
general
lacking order, organization, or control
The crowd became disorderly after the announcement.
The crowd lost control after the announcement.
His desk is always disorderly, covered in papers and clutter.
His desk is always messy and disorganized.
Often describes people, groups, or environments that are noisy, chaotic, or not following rules.
Law
formal
in law, behaving in a disruptive or unruly manner
The defendant was charged with disorderly conduct after disrupting the court proceedings.
The defendant was accused of causing a disturbance in the courtroom.
A legal term referring to behavior that disturbs public peace or order.
Collocations
disorderly conducta legal charge for disruptive behaviordisorderly crowda group of people acting chaoticallydisorderly rooma messy or untidy space
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Avoid overusing 'disorderly'
While 'disorderly' is useful, it can sound formal or dramatic. For everyday contexts, consider simpler alternatives like 'messy,' 'chaotic,' or 'unruly.'
Gold Rule
Use 'disorderly' for active chaos
Reserve 'disorderly' for situations where the lack of order is noticeable or problematic, rather than just untidy. For example, 'a disorderly classroom' implies disruption, while 'a messy classroom' suggests clutter.
Word Origin
From Middle English *disordourli*, from Old French *desordene* (disorder) + *-ly* (adjective suffix). The root is Latin *dis-* (lack of) + *ordo* (order).
Usage Notes
Commonly used to describe people, groups, or environments that are noisy, chaotic, or not following rules. In legal contexts, 'disorderly conduct' is a specific charge for behavior that disturbs public peace.
Word Breakdown
dis-
prefix meaning 'lack of' or 'not'
prefixorder
root meaning 'arrangement or rule'
root-ly
adjective-forming suffix
suffixEnglish Dictionary