dislocate

verb

dis·​lo·​cate ˈdis-lō-ˌkāt How to pronounce dislocate (audio)
-lə-;
(ˌ)dis-ˈlō- How to pronounce dislocate (audio)
dislocated; dislocating; dislocates

transitive verb

1
: to put out of place
specifically : to displace (a bone) from normal connections with another bone
2
: to force a change in the usual status, relationship, or order of : disrupt

Examples of dislocate in a Sentence

She fell and dislocated her shoulder. The new hotel will dislocate several businesses. Thousands of workers have been dislocated by the latest economic crisis.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
After losing the game 110-102, Jazz personnel confirmed that Hendricks fractured his fibula and dislocated his ankle, ESPN reported. Danielle Jennings, People.com, 29 Oct. 2024 Houston Texans starting guard Kenyon Green, a first-round pick in the 2022 draft, will reportedly be out for the season after dislocating his left shoulder in last night's match-up with the New York Jets. Marco Rubio, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024 Ohtani hasn’t looked right in the two games he’s played since partially dislocating his shoulder. Dylan Hernández, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2024 Sure enough, Buck immediately slips on pumpkin guts and falls hard on the floor, dislocating his shoulder. Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for dislocate 

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin dislocatus, past participle of dislocare, from Latin dis- + locare to locate

First Known Use

1601, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dislocate was in 1601

Dictionary Entries Near dislocate

Cite this Entry

“Dislocate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dislocate. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

dislocate

verb
dis·​lo·​cate ˈdis-lō-ˌkāt How to pronounce dislocate (audio)
(ˈ)dis-ˈlō-
1
: to put out of place
especially : to displace (a bone) from normal connections with another bone
2

Medical Definition

dislocate

transitive verb
dislocated; dislocating
: to put (a body part) out of order by displacing a bone from its normal connections with another bone
he dislocated his shoulder
also : to displace (a bone) from normal connections with another bone
the humerus was dislocated in the fall

More from Merriam-Webster on dislocate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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