disconnected
/ˌdɪskəˈnektɪd/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌdɪskəˈnektɪd/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌdis-kə-ˈnek-təd/ (ame, mw)
disconnected — adjective
- disconnectedpositive
- more disconnectedcomparative
- most disconnectedsuperlative
1. used to describe thoughts, speech, or writing where the individual ideas do not
used to describe thoughts, speech, or writing where the individual ideas do not follow each other in a coherent sequence, making it difficult to see the overall meaning.
After the accident, Hassan's explanation sounded disconnected and confusing to the police officer.
disconnected + and + [adjective] for describing speech
The essay felt disconnected because the writer jumped between topics without a clear link.
Amelia found the lecture disconnected and could not follow the professor's main point.
The old man's memories came out in disconnected fragments that never formed a full story.
- disjointed
very similar meaning; 'disjointed' emphasizes that parts don't fit together smoothly
- incoherent
stronger than 'disconnected'; suggests the whole thing is impossible to understand
- fragmentary
focuses on incompleteness rather than illogical order
用法筆記
Frequently used to describe spoken or written communication. The opposite (coherent) is more common for well-structured speech.
常見錯誤
2. feeling separate from other people or groups, with a sense that you cannot share
feeling separate from other people or groups, with a sense that you cannot share their feelings, interests, or experiences.
After moving to Canada, Tuan often felt disconnected from his childhood friends back in Vietnam.
feel disconnected from + [someone/somewhere]
The teenager felt disconnected from her classmates because she preferred reading over partying.
Vinícius felt disconnected from the group and sat alone during the lunch break.
Many elderly people feel disconnected from a society that moves too fast for them.
文法句型
feel + disconnected + from + [someone/something]
用法筆記
Nearly always used with the verb 'feel' or 'become,' followed by 'from.' The subject is typically a person or group, not an object.
常見錯誤
3. not physically or electronically linked to a power supply, communication network
not physically or electronically linked to a power supply, communication network, or piece of equipment.
The printer is disconnected from the computer, so nothing will print right now.
disconnected from + [device] for physical connections
Ryo could not check his email because the hotel Wi-Fi was disconnected for repairs.
During the flight, passengers must keep all devices disconnected from the internet and mobile networks.
The old television sat disconnected in the garage before the family threw it away.
- unplugged
informal; emphasizes the action of being deliberately disconnected
- offline
specifically about network or internet connections
- unattached
less common for technology; more physical
- connected
linked to a power source, network, or device
- plugged in
informal; directly attached to a power outlet
文法句型
disconnected from + [device/network/power]
用法筆記
The most concrete and common everyday sense. Can describe anything from a cable to a Wi-Fi network to a phone line. Opposite is 'connected' or 'plugged in.'
常見錯誤
4. describing a men's haircut in which the sides are cut very short while the hair
describing a men's haircut in which the sides are cut very short while the hair on top is left considerably longer, creating a stark contrast between the two sections with no gradual blend.
The barber asked if Christopher wanted a disconnected cut with short sides.
disconnected cut — compound noun in hairstyling
Liang's new disconnected hairstyle looked sharp and modern at the wedding reception.
Disconnected haircuts have become popular among young professionals who want a clean, bold look.
Erik asked the barber for a disconnected haircut with shaved sides and longer hair on top.
- faded
describes a cut where the sides blend gradually into the top
文法句型
disconnected + [haircut/hairstyle/cut]
用法筆記
A specialist term in barbering. Unlike a 'fade' or 'taper,' a disconnected cut has an abrupt line between the short and long sections rather than a smooth transition.
常見錯誤
5. marked by sudden, sharp changes from one subject to another, especially in a con
marked by sudden, sharp changes from one subject to another, especially in a conversation or piece of writing, leaving the listener or reader with a jumpy impression.
The interview felt disconnected because the candidate jumped from topic to topic without warning.
disconnected + as + [clause describing the abrupt shifts]
Walid's presentation was so disconnected that the audience could not follow his chain of reasoning.
Ada's disconnected way of telling the story made the children lose interest halfway through.
Sivan tried to follow the disconnected conversation, but each new topic came without any warning.
- jumpy
informal; captures the sudden, restless movement between topics
- disjointed
overlaps with sense 1 but also works here for abrupt transitions
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: sense 1 describes a general lack of logical connection between ideas, while sense 5 specifically highlights the suddenness of transitions between topics in speech or text.
常見錯誤
❌ Using sense 5 ('abrupt topic shifts') when meaning sense 1 ('incoherent ideas'). The difference: sense 5 is about HOW the speaker moves between topics (suddenly), while sense 1 is about whether the ideas are logically related at all.